Australian police probe arson on Hanukkah-decorated car in Melbourne, no injuries, amid rising anti-Semitism concerns.

Australian police are investigating a suspected anti-Semitic arson attack on a car displaying a Hanukkah sign in Melbourne’s St Kilda East on Christmas morning, with no injuries reported but residents evacuated. The fire, which destroyed the vehicle, occurred around 2:50 a.m. on Balaclava Road, and authorities have identified a person who may assist the investigation. The incident follows the recent Bondi Beach terror attack that killed 15 people during Hanukkah celebrations. Jewish leaders and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the act as hateful and evil, calling for unity. While demands for a royal commission into anti-Semitism grow, the federal government has opted for a narrower, NSW-led inquiry, supporting hate speech reforms and expanded police powers to block protests near terror sites.