BREAKING: Two men have just pleaded guilty to their roles in a shocking spree of anti-Semitic vandalism and arson in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Mohommed Farhat and Thomas Stojanovski admitted to setting fire to a car and defacing multiple properties, including renowned chef Matt Moran’s Chiswick Restaurant, with hateful graffiti.
The attacks occurred on November 21, 2022, in the Woollahra area, known for its significant Jewish community. Court documents reveal their vandalism spree resulted in over $100,000 in damages, as they spray-painted slogans like “F**k Israel” on vehicles and buildings.
Emergency services were alerted just after midnight when a white Ford Ranger was set alight. Firefighters arrived to find flames reaching heights of up to 3 meters, destroying the vehicle valued at $86,000 and damaging another parked car by $16,000.
CCTV footage captured the duo, clad in dark clothing and masks, as they vandalized cars and properties. According to court documents, they began their night at a petrol station, where Farhat purchased fuel and a lighter before heading to Woollahra, armed with jerry cans and a torch.
After defacing numerous vehicles, the pair ignited the Ford Ranger, fleeing the scene before the fire engulfed the car. They later returned to Farhat’s home in Beverly Hills via Uber.
The cleanup effort began immediately, with local businesses and the Woollahra Council incurring substantial costs to remove the hateful messages.
Farhat was apprehended at Sydney International Airport while attempting to board a flight to Bali, while Stojanovski was arrested days later at his home in Arncliffe. Both men appeared in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday, where they pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including two counts of destroying property using fire and ten counts of damaging property.
The court proceedings are ongoing, with sentencing scheduled for November 2023. This incident has raised significant concerns about the rise of anti-Semitic acts in the region, prompting local leaders to call for increased vigilance and community solidarity.
Stay tuned for updates as this developing story unfolds.
