Task force charges first man in antisemitism crackdown
A man accused of making death threats against members of the Jewish community is the first person to be charged by a special federal antisemitism task force.
A man has been charged after allegedly using social media to make death threats against members of the Jewish community.
The 44-year-old from western Sydney is the first to be charged since a special anti-Semitism task force was formed following the firebombing of a synagogue.
Police say the Blacktown man posted death threats on a Jewish association’s social media page.
He was charged with one count each of using a carriage service to make a threat to kill and using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.
“It is abhorrent that individuals are being targeted and threatened because of their race or religion,” Australian Federal Police Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations Command Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt said on Thursday.
“Antisemites should be on notice. If you engage in antisemitic conduct, you will investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
The man was granted police bail and is scheduled to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on February 26.
The offences he has been charged with carry a maximum penalty of 10 and five years’ imprisonment, respectively.
Special Operation Avalite, which is led by specialists from the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, was set up in December following the arson at Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue.
It followed earlier arson attacks on cars in the Sydney suburb of Woollahra and the electorate office of Jewish Labor MP Josh Burns.
More than 20 police and analysts target high-harm and recidivist anti-Semites including those who urge violence, terrorism and genocide, or unlawfully display prohibited symbols.
Mr Nutt said a number of individuals were under investigation and the community should expect further charges.
President of The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, David Ossip, told J-Wire: “We welcome the announcement this afternoon of an arrest of a male in connection with the antisemitic vandalism of vehicles and property in Woollahra in November as well as the first arrest under Operation Avalite of an individual who allegedly made death threats against a Jewish organisation.
To restore deterrence, it is essential that individuals who commit crimes motivated by antisemitic animus are swiftly identified, prosecuted and receive substantial penalties.
The arrests made this afternoon of individuals allegedly associated with such crimes are a step in the right direction. We thank NSW Police and the AFP for the positive developments this afternoon and look forward to further arrests in relation to other incidents.”
By: Aaron Bunch/AAP
