Sydney man accused in antisemitic vandalism granted bail

A Sydney man accused of targeting Jewish properties and vehicles with anti-Israel graffiti and arson has been granted strict conditional bail after a Friday Supreme Court hearing, amid concerns over radicalisation and community safety.

In November 2023, police allege that ten vehicles and three buildings in Woollahra were defaced with graffiti, and one car was set alight, causing significant damage to a second vehicle parked nearby. The suburb, located in Sydney’s east, is home to many Jewish residents and institutions. CCTV footage captured two men spray-painting slogans along Wellington Street, some of which included inflammatory anti-Israel messages. NSW Police said the total damage amounted to approximately $110,000.

Days after the incident, Mohommed Farhat, then 20, was arrested at Sydney International Airport. Authorities claimed he was attempting to leave the country on a Jetstar flight to Bali with his girlfriend. He was charged with 21 offences, including 14 counts of damaging and destroying property. According to police, the arrest was carried out without incident and was the result of a joint investigation by detectives and counter-terrorism units. However, Farhat has not been charged with any terrorism-related offences.

The case has unfolded amid broader social tensions, as Australia saw a marked increase in antisemitic incidents following the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 and the ensuing conflict in Gaza. There has been a spike in antisemitic incidents nationwide, including threats, harassment, and vandalism targeting Jewish institutions and individuals. Police forces in both New South Wales and Victoria reported an uptick in hate crime investigations tied to Middle East tensions.

During Friday’s Supreme Court hearing, prosecutors argued against bail and presented details from a psychiatric evaluation of Farhat conducted while in remand. The Crown prosecutor told the court, “He told the psychiatrist that he had been influenced to commit the offences without the detection of his family.” Justice Richard Weinstein, who presided over the hearing, referenced this interview and noted that Farhat had said “people were getting in his head.”

Prosecutors also alleged that Farhat had searched online for the location of a Sydney Jewish hospital before the incident, raising concerns that his actions were deliberately targeted. Despite these claims, Justice Weinstein stated, “There is no real evidence about radicalisation,” although he acknowledged the presence of a Hezbollah flag tattoo on Farhat, which he called “as high as it goes.”

Farhat’s barrister, Rebekah Rodger, presented evidence that her client had no prior criminal history and was not attempting to flee the country. She submitted a Jetstar receipt suggesting that Farhat’s travel plans were a holiday booked with his partner. “The family is paying attention now if they weren’t before,” Rodger told the court, indicating that Farhat’s parents were prepared to monitor him closely if released.

Justice Weinstein ultimately granted bail under strict conditions, citing the presumption of innocence and unacceptable delays in the court system. “Eighteen months delay  …  that is a long time to wait. I have to assume the presumption of innocence,” he said, referencing the prosecution’s admission that a trial was unlikely to proceed before the end of 2025.

As part of the bail agreement, Farhat will reside at his parents’ home in southern Sydney under 24-hour home detention. He must wear an electronic monitoring bracelet and is only allowed to leave for legal or medical appointments while accompanied by one of his parents. He will also be subject to daily police check-ins at the St George Police Command.

The case has generated strong reactions across Sydney’s Jewish community and within the broader public, many of whom see it as a reflection of growing political and religious tensions. Law enforcement officials have called for calm and reiterated their commitment to protecting all communities amid rising concerns about hate speech and extremist violence.

Authorities continue to investigate the involvement of the second man seen in the CCTV footage, who has not yet been publicly identified.