Hatred in Bellevue Hill

 Email this story

Print

1 Comment

A construction worker has been charged with four counts of intimidation after threatening four Jewish teenagers with an Israel flag in the Sydney suburb of Bellevue Hill.

In Bellevue Hill, Australia 🇦🇺

A Muslim construction worker threatened Jews, telling them to put their flag away, or he would kill them.#GazaUnderAttack #Israel_under_attack #PalestineUnderAttack #Israel #Hamas #Palestine #Gaza #Hezbollah #StandWithIsrael #IsraelPalestineWar pic.twitter.com/MCng2EhlMq

— Roasting Man (@Roasting_man123) October 11, 2023

The man ordered the teenagers to put the flag back into their car.

Captured by video, the man repeatedly told the boys “I swear if I f..king see youse with that flag I’ll f..king kill youse all’.’

On Wednesday afternoon, the man attended Liverpool Police Station and was charged with intimidating with intent to cause fear of physical harm.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley said NSW took all instances of anti-Semitism seriously and there was no place for any kind of hate.

The man accused of intimidating four teenagers over an Israeli flag has been barred from visiting areas where Jewish people congregate as he faces charges over the incident.

Abdullah Al-Taay was granted bail at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday, a day after being arrested.

The 23-year-old faces four charges of stalking or intimidating the teens with intent to cause fear of harm over the incident in the eastern-city suburb of Bellevue Hill on Monday.

He is accused of verbally threatening the teens about an Israeli flag they were about to drape over their car.

On Thursday, prosecutors said there were concerns Al-Taay could pose a risk to the community given the allegations involved threats to young people, and he had been previously convicted of assault.

However, proposed bail conditions agreed to by the 23-year-old’s lawyer, Elie Srour, mitigated those risks, the court heard.

Al-Taay watched the hearing by video link from Amber Laurel prison in western Sydney.

Magistrate Julie Huber granted him bail, ordering him to reside at an address in Glen Alpine, remain under a nightly curfew and refrain from attending any protest or rally.

He will also be barred from a number of suburbs in Sydney’s eastern suburbs that are home to large Jewish communities unless he is there for work.

The matter will return to court on October 27, when a plea will be made.

A controversial pro-Palestine rally was held at the Sydney Opera House on Monday night as the iconic venue was lit up in the colours of the Israeli flag.

Further protests are planned in Sydney and other major cities on Sunday, while vigils have been held by the Jewish community in response to events in Israel.

A second pro-Palestine rally has been organised in Melbourne for Sunday after an investigation into anti-Semitic threats levelled at a bystander from a car in the city’s upscale South Yarra area on Tuesday afternoon.

Police say the man subjected to the abuse is satisfied with their response to the incident and no further action will be taken.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan confirmed security would be increased around key locations such as synagogues and schools following a request to do so.

“This is a very, very difficult time for the Jewish community,” she told reporters in Melbourne.

“We do need to ensure we’re providing a safe and harmonious setting here in Victoria and that is the work that Victoria Police is focused on.”

Thousands of people made a show of solidarity in Sydney’s east on Wednesday night as the death toll in Israel rose to more than 1000.

Scores of others were taken hostage by the militants after they breached the fence enclosing Gaza on Saturday.

More than 1200 Israelis have been killed in Hamas attacks, while over 1000 Palestinians are believed to have died in retaliatory airstrikes in Gaza.

Miklos Bolza in Sydney/AAP