SHAFAQNA- A man has been charged after a car was vandalized with Islamophobic messages in Sydney’s south-west.
Police had launched an investigation after a black Audi 4WD was found with smashed windows and covered in graffiti on Johnson Road, Bass Hill.
A 55-year-old who lives on the street was arrested at his home on Tuesday night and charged with destroy/damage property. He has been granted conditional bail to appear before Bankstown Local Court on March 2.
The car’s front and rear window was smashed and it was covered with the Islamophobic words “Arab Muslims, “go back”.
“We are currently investigating the matter further and hoping that the owner of the vehicle or any witnesses to the incident comes forward to provide additional details,” said Mariam Veiszadeh, president of Islamophobia Register Australia. “We are seeing increased examples of these types of incidents where backyard bigots, emboldened by hate groups engage in varying forms of Islamophobia,”
A police spokesperson said initial investigations showed the vehicle had been parked at the location for some time and had only recently been damaged.
The car was towed away for further investigations and police have asked anyone with information to call.
