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Topic:Crime
The vehicle was allegedly set alight on Christmas Day. (ABC News)
A Richmond man has been charged after an alleged arson attack on a car with a Hanukkah decoration on Christmas morning in Melbourne's south-east.
A local rabbi's car — adorned with a "Happy Chanukah" sign — was destroyed in the incident about 3am on Christmas Day, with his family fleeing their St Kilda East home as the unoccupied vehicle burned.
No-one was physically injured by the fire.
A man has been arrested in connection to an alleged arson. (Facebook)
Chanukah, also spelled Hanukkah, is the name for the eight-day Jewish festival of lights.
The 47-year-old man was arrested on Victoria Street in Richmond about 9am on Tuesday.
He has since been charged with offences including multiple counts of criminal damage by fire, theft from shops, obtaining property by deception and attempted theft from motor vehicles.
The man has also been charged with burglary and theft and will appear before Melbourne Magistrates' Court today.  
The incident occurred in an area with a significant Jewish population, and frightened the community in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, as well as arson attacks at the Adass Israel synagogue in December 2024 and the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation in 2025.
Assistant Commissioner Chris Gilbert earlier said police were investigating whether the alleged incident was motivated by antisemitism.
"It's possible it was not. It's certainly still possible that it was," he said.
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