Days following a terrorist attack at Bondi Beach, Australian police are investigating what they called a "suspicious fire" after a car with a "Happy Chanukah" sign fixed to the roof, marking the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, was set ablaze Thursday in Melbourne.
The empty car, was scorched by the fire while parked in a house driveway, as per images from national broadcaster ABC television.
It was set alight in the early hours of Thursday morning in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda East, Victoria police said in a statement, describing it as a "suspicious fire".
The ‘suspicious fire’ comes days after 15 people were killed, others were injured when gunmen opened fire during a Jewish holiday event at Syndey's Bondi Beach, where hundreds had gathered to celebrate the beginning of the festival of Hanukkah.
Police on the lookout
Police officials investigating the car far said detectives involved have identified a person who may be able to assist with their investigation and are actively searching for and making enquiries into their whereabouts, reported AFP.
Multiple netizens also took to social media to post about the car fire, sharing photos of the car bearing the ‘Happy Chanukah’ sign on its roof.
Australian authorities have been stiffening laws and penalties for hate crimes after a the 14 December mass shooting at a Hanukkah festival on Bondi Beach – which killed 15 people.
How the shooting unfolded?
The tragedy occurred on Sunday, 14 December, when gunmen opened fire during a Jewish holiday event at Bondi Beach – where hundreds had gathered to celebrate the beginning of the festival of Hanukkah.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Jewish people who went to light the first candle of the Hanukkah holiday on the beach were attacked by “vile terrorists,” as per a report by Reuters.
On Monday, more details emerged about the attack with police claiming in court documents that the shooters had “meticulously planned this terrorist attack for many months".
A report by The Guardian mentioned that the attackers had made an “ISIS-inspired” video, conducted firearms training and hurled a tennis ball bomb containing explosives at a crowd, which did not detonate but was alleged by police to be a “viable improvised explosive device."
Police identified the attackers as a 50-year-old man and his 24-year-old son from Sydney’s western suburbs, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon had said earlier, reported Bloomberg.
