Australian police have launched an investigation after a childcare centre was torched on Tuesday, the latest in a string of anti-Semitic attacks across the country.

The centre in Sydney, located near the Maroubra Synagogue, was destroyed in the blaze, New South Wales (NSW) police said.

“Offensive graffiti was also located spray painted on an external wall,” police added.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the fire was the “latest in a series of anti-Semitic hate crimes.”

Mr Albanese said, “It is a crime, a vicious crime, to think through how you could think that something like this will advance any alleged cause that people might have.’’

NSW Premier Chris Minns called the fire a “vicious hate crime” and said police were investigating.

“We are seeing a wave of anti-Semitic attacks in our community. It’s deeply distressing.

“It’s against everything and all of the traditions that we hold dear in Australia. These anti-Semitic attacks are the opposite of the kind of country that we all want to live in,’’ he said.

NSW police deputy commissioner Peter Thurtell said more police would be deployed.

“Now, the abhorrent nature of these attacks has already been mentioned, but let me emphasise that these people aren’t just somebody who has a bent against a certain race or religion. These are criminals who are out to destroy our society,’’ he said.

In the past three months, at least nine anti-Semitic incidents have been reported in Australia, including arson at synagogues, offensive graffiti and cars being torched.

The firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue in December was being treated as a terrorist incident.

(dpa/NAN)