Police confirm Ryvchin was target of Dover Heights arson attack

NSW Police announced on Thursday that they believe Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin was the intended target of an arson attack on his former home in January this year.

Police have released CCTV vision as investigations continue into the targeted attack after vehicles were set alight and homes vandalised in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on January 17.

About 3.45am on Friday January 17, officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command were called to Military Road, Dover Heights, following reports of antisemitic graffiti being sprayed on two vehicles and houses before the vehicles were set alight.

Strike Force Pearl detectives confirmed they believe Ryvchin was the intended target of the attack. The current occupants are not Jewish.

To date, four men have been charged over their alleged roles and remain before the courts.

Strike force detectives have now released vision of a vehicle and two men they believe may be able to assist with their inquiries. Both men are described as being of medium build and shown wearing dark hooded jumpers and pants.

The vehicle is described as a dark-coloured hatchback believed to have travelled to and from the Dover Heights area via New South Head Road.

According to reports at the time, red paint was splashed across the front of the home while antisemitic slurs were sprayed on nearby vehicles. A van and car were set ablaze in the driveway.

NSW Fire and Rescue Acting Superintendent Aaron Ross confirmed firefighters quickly controlled the situation. “Crews arrived to find two vehicles on fire and a third damaged,” Ross said at the time. “It was rapidly extinguished and didn’t spread to the adjacent property.”

The attack prompted strong condemnation from political leaders across the spectrum.

NSW Premier Chris Minns called it “a disgusting and dangerous act of violence that is the latest example of a rising level of antisemitic attacks in our community”.

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said at the time he was “profoundly disturbed and sickened” by the attack.

“Criminal acts like these, perpetrated by masked cowards and thugs in the dead of night, are intended to menace and intimidate the Jewish community,” Ossip said.

The Dover Heights attack forms part of Strike Force Pearl’s broader investigation into antisemitic incidents across Sydney.

On Wednesday, police announced that counter terrorism detectives had charged two men following an investigation into the alleged malicious damage of a synagogue in Sydney’s south and three other incidents in Maroubra and Dover Heights.

The charges relate to graffiti depicting a Nazi swastika and antisemitic messaging found on a synagogue in Railway Parade, Allawah, on January 10.

A 26-year-old man was charged with knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol without excuse, destroying or damaging property in company worth more than $2000, and participating in criminal group activities.

A 27-year-old man was charged with participating in criminal group activities and directing criminal group activities relating to incidents at a childcare centre in Maroubra, a school in Maroubra, and the Dover Heights home.

Police allege the 26-year-old carried out the synagogue attack on instructions and with assistance from the 27-year-old.

Both men are due to appear at Downing Centre Local Court in October.

Anyone with information about the Dover Heights incident, including dashcam footage, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

NSW Police emphasised they take hate crimes seriously and encourage anyone who is the victim of or witnesses a hate crime to report it through Crime Stoppers or Triple Zero in an emergency.