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Five teenagers accused of antisemitic threats to children on Sydney bus Five teenagers accused of antisemitic threats to children on Sydney bus
(about 1 hour later)
New South Wales police have arrested five teenagers after a group of Jewish schoolchildren were allegedly subjected to antisemitic abuse, including threats to kill them, in Sydney.New South Wales police have arrested five teenagers after a group of Jewish schoolchildren were allegedly subjected to antisemitic abuse, including threats to kill them, in Sydney.
According to police, the teenagers boarded a bus full of schoolchildren, aged between five and 12, which was heading to Bondi Junction on Wednesday afternoon. The group then directed antisemitic abuse and threats at the children.According to police, the teenagers boarded a bus full of schoolchildren, aged between five and 12, which was heading to Bondi Junction on Wednesday afternoon. The group then directed antisemitic abuse and threats at the children.
Jacqui Blackburn, the mother of three of the children, told the Daily Telegraph her daughters called her to say, “Please help us mummy, there’s eight drunk men that have just been let on to our school bus.”Jacqui Blackburn, the mother of three of the children, told the Daily Telegraph her daughters called her to say, “Please help us mummy, there’s eight drunk men that have just been let on to our school bus.”
Blackburn added: “The bus driver opened the doors for these strange men and allowed them on to torment the kids.Blackburn added: “The bus driver opened the doors for these strange men and allowed them on to torment the kids.
“They were screaming, ‘Heil Hitler,’ ‘Kill the Jews,’ ‘Palestine must kill you Jews,’ ‘We are going to cut your throats and slice your throats open.’ Just all very bad, antisemitic stuff.”“They were screaming, ‘Heil Hitler,’ ‘Kill the Jews,’ ‘Palestine must kill you Jews,’ ‘We are going to cut your throats and slice your throats open.’ Just all very bad, antisemitic stuff.”
The teenagers also said “Fuck Israel, free Palestine”, according to accounts from other children on the bus. The children were described to be panicking and crying afterwards.The teenagers also said “Fuck Israel, free Palestine”, according to accounts from other children on the bus. The children were described to be panicking and crying afterwards.
A NSW police spokeswoman said five boys aged between 15 and 17 had been arrested on Military Road about 3.30am on Thursday.A NSW police spokeswoman said five boys aged between 15 and 17 had been arrested on Military Road about 3.30am on Thursday.
They were taken to Waverley police station where they were released into the custody of their parents. The investigation is ongoing.They were taken to Waverley police station where they were released into the custody of their parents. The investigation is ongoing.
Security has been tightened at the schools the abuse victims attend, with an armed guard seen patrolling the entrance to the Mount Sinai College in Maroubra. Moriah College and Emmanuel College are also understood to have posted security guards on campus.Security has been tightened at the schools the abuse victims attend, with an armed guard seen patrolling the entrance to the Mount Sinai College in Maroubra. Moriah College and Emmanuel College are also understood to have posted security guards on campus.
The allegations follow the heavy bombardment of the Gaza strip by Israel for the past month. Palestinian officials say the military offensive has killed 1,867 people, mostly civilians. Israel says 64 of its soldiers and three civilians have been killed in the fighting, which has now entered the second day of a ceasefire.The allegations follow the heavy bombardment of the Gaza strip by Israel for the past month. Palestinian officials say the military offensive has killed 1,867 people, mostly civilians. Israel says 64 of its soldiers and three civilians have been killed in the fighting, which has now entered the second day of a ceasefire.
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry said it was “deeply concerned” by the incident.
“The gravity of this incident should not be underestimated,” it said in a statement.
“It is unacceptable for school children aged between five and 12 to be subjected to such a terrifying ordeal. Any abuse directed at children is deplorable. It is particularly so when that abuse is racial in nature and accompanied by threats of extreme violence. It demonstrates a hatred and cowardice that should concern all Australians.”
The organisation said the attack was the latest in a string of recent antisemitic incidents, including a visiting rabbi from Israel being verbally abused in Perth and anti-Jewish slogans spray-painted onto a house in Melbourne.
“It is completely unacceptable and morally repugnant to scapegoat or hold responsible Jewish Australians, including children, for events overseas,” it said.
“It is completely unacceptable to view Jewish Australians as a legitimate target for abuse and violence, regardless of one’s political views.”
Victor Dominello, the NSW communities minister, said he was “deeply disturbed” by the antisemitic attack. “Public abuse and intimidation on the grounds of race or religion is deplorable,” he said.Victor Dominello, the NSW communities minister, said he was “deeply disturbed” by the antisemitic attack. “Public abuse and intimidation on the grounds of race or religion is deplorable,” he said.
“The people of NSW will never excuse it and those who are alleged to have subjected schoolchildren as young as five to this antisemitic attack should face the full force of the law.“The people of NSW will never excuse it and those who are alleged to have subjected schoolchildren as young as five to this antisemitic attack should face the full force of the law.
“We are lucky to live in one of the most harmonious multicultural societies in the world but we must never be complacent. It is incumbent upon all citizens to expose those whose actions are based on racial hatred and who seek to import overseas conflict on to our streets.”“We are lucky to live in one of the most harmonious multicultural societies in the world but we must never be complacent. It is incumbent upon all citizens to expose those whose actions are based on racial hatred and who seek to import overseas conflict on to our streets.”