Police are investigating an apparent anti-Semitic bombing that destroyed a daycare center in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Tuesday morning.
Emergency services were called to the Only About Children nursery on the corner of Anzac Parade and Storey Street, Maroubra, about 1am following reports of a fire.
The arsonists set fire to the daycare and spray painted an anti-Semitic slur on the outside wall.
Firefighters extinguished the fire a short time later, although the fire had already caused significant property damage.
Police believe the attack may have targeted the wrong property as there is a synagogue 150 meters down Anzac Parade and the damaged nursery had no connection to it..
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the attack as an “evil hate crime”.
“My Government will support NSW Police in pursuing criminals and ensuring they face the full force of the law through Operation Avalite,” Mr Albanese said.
It is the latest alleged anti-Semitic attack to occur in Sydney in recent days, and comes just days after the former home of outspoken Jewish community leader Alex Ryvchin was attacked.
A daycare was burned down in an alleged anti-Semitic attack (pictured)

An anti-Semitic slur was found spray-painted on the outside wall of the daycare center (pictured)
Several cars parked on Military Road in Dover Heights were painted with anti-Semitic slogans and two were set on fire around 4 a.m. Friday.
The former family home of Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jews, was also splattered with red paint.
Ryvchin criticized the latest attack and called on the government to hold an emergency cabinet meeting.
“Planning and executing the bombing of a daycare center requires savagery so profound it is difficult to imagine,” Mr Ryvchin said.
‘Families will discuss whether it is safe to send their children to places where they should be safest.
‘Places of worship, homes and now preschools have been targeted by domestic terrorists.
‘Anti-Semitism consumes everything. It is the disease that is destroying our country. “We need a national cabinet to deal with what is a national emergency.”
Dr Dvir Abramovich, chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission, said the recent attack sent “chills down the spines of all Australians”.
“It is a chilling reminder that anti-Semitism knows no borders, that it will go to the darkest depths, even a place intended for small children, to leave its mark,” Dr. Abramovich said.
“Whoever committed this heinous act chose to use fear as a weapon against the most vulnerable among us.
“We must redouble our efforts to educate, legislate and fight with everything we have against the forces of hate.”

Police have established a crime scene and are investigating the incident (pictured)
Last Monday, a wall near Sydenham train station in the inner city was painted with the words “gas the Jews.”
Swastikas were also painted on the nearby Newtown synagogue before masked vandals attempted to burn it down.
Earlier this month, the South Sydney synagogue in the suburb of Allawah was also attacked by anti-Semitic vandals who painted a series of large red swastikas on the entrance to the place of worship.
Graffiti including ‘Kill Israiel’ (sic) was sprayed on buildings and sidewalks in Woollahra, a Sydney suburb known for its Jewish community, in the early hours of December 11.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton announced on Monday his plan to implement stricter laws to combat antisemitism.
Terrorism offenses would carry a minimum of six years in prison under the coalition’s proposed laws, while those who display signs of terrorist organizations, display Nazi symbols or perform a Nazi salute would face at least a year behind bars.
“They force courts to impose sentences when circumstances do not justify it due to the nature of the crime or the offender’s background,” he said.