Police in the Australian state of Victoria have launched a hate crime investigation after a vehicle was set alight and anti-Semitic graffiti was discovered at the scene in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda.
Incident Details and Police Response
The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, 26 December 2025. Emergency services were called to Hotham Street in St Kilda just after 3:20 am following reports of a car on fire.
Upon arrival, Victoria Police officers and firefighters from Fire Rescue Victoria extinguished the blaze. A preliminary examination of the scene revealed suspicious circumstances, prompting the attendance of arson chemists.
Most alarmingly, investigators found graffiti sprayed on a wall near the burnt-out vehicle. The message read "Happy Chanukah"—a direct reference to the Jewish festival of lights, which was being celebrated at the time of the incident.
Community Impact and Official Statements
The discovery has sent shockwaves through the local community, particularly the Jewish population. A police spokesperson confirmed the serious nature of the probe, stating, "The graffiti is being treated as a hate crime".
Authorities have not yet determined a precise motive but are exploring all possibilities, including whether the act was deliberately timed to coincide with the Chanukah celebrations. The damaged vehicle, a white sedan, was extensively damaged in the fire.
Local detectives from the Port Phillip Criminal Investigation Unit have taken charge of the case. They are urging anyone with information to come forward, especially residents or motorists who may have witnessed suspicious activity or captured relevant dashcam or CCTV footage in the Hotham Street area around 3:20 am.
Ongoing Investigation and Appeals
As part of their investigation, police are conducting a thorough forensic analysis of the scene. This includes evidence collected by the arson chemists to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Detectives are also conducting door-to-door inquiries in the neighbourhood. They are keen to stress that even small pieces of information could be vital to identifying those responsible for what is being treated as a targeted and hate-fuelled act.
No arrests have been made at this stage, and the investigation remains active and ongoing. The incident has raised significant concerns about community safety and religious intolerance in the area.
