May 3, 2024
Jewish leaders and political figures have called for a more urgent approach to strengthening anti-hate laws after a group of Sydney teenagers, calling themselves "Soldiers of Allah", were charged over allegedly plotting a terrorist attack on Jews.
A group of males were taken into custody by NSW Police in anti-terrorism operations and charged in the Children's Court following an attack in Sydney's west last month, at which another individual allegedly stabbed Christian Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel.
Sydney's Daily Telegraph reported that allegations against four of the teens included chat on the encrypted Signal app about obtaining and storing guns. Police alleged comments made within the group included, "I wanna die and I wanna kill . I'm just excited . Is your plan to get caught or die or escape?" Another allegedly stated, "I really want to target the yahood [Jewish people] . we will plan it." Describing the police fact-sheet as "chilling", Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Peter Wertheim said, "The hatreds and violence of overseas conflicts have been imported into Australia, and are poisoning our peaceful and tolerant way of life. At the heart of the problem are teenage boys wallowing in a toxic brew of sexual repression, stunted emotions and warped religiosity. The fact that some of them may suffer from mental health issues does not diminish the terrorist nature of their conduct. The two are not mutually exclusive." Zionist Federation of Australia CEO Alon Cassuto stated, "It's both concerning and unsurprising to hear reports that the arrested teens who exchanged messages about jihad also expressed a desire to target Jews. The combination of hate-filled sermons and the relentless repetition of lies about Israel online means it's sadly predictable that teens could develop a deepseated hatred for Jews. Lives are at risk." Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein said, "At a time when ASIO says the primary terror threat in Australia comes from religiously motivated violent extremism, and that we face a 50/50 possibility of a significant terrorist attack in the next 12 months, most Australians know that Islamist terror targets Jews. Teenagers are pointy weapons in a familiar toolbox of terrorism.
Lone-wolf attacks do not occur in a vacuum nor alone. Individuals such as these are radicalised by the hatred and incitement." NSW Liberal Senator Dave Sharma told The AJN reports the teens were planning to attack Jews are deeply concerning.
"For too long now, since the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7, we have seen a few Islamic preachers espousing hatred towards Jews, in well-publicised incidents, and with no consequence." Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil told media, "It is correct to say that we are seeing a trend where it is harder for us to discern when a terrorist attack like this may occur, but I would say that police and our law enforcement officials are very good at this and I'm confident in their abilities." Victorian Senator James Paterson, Home Affairs shadow minister, described the police allegations as "further evidence of the worsening crisis of antisemitism within Australia. This comes after repeated instances of state and federal governments abjectly failing to enforce anti-incitement laws in response to hateful rhetoric from preachers who are indoctrinating young people with violent and extremist ideologies."
