Emergency services were able to extinguish the fire and evacuate a nearby house on Thursday morning. Photo: ABC / Supplied
Police have identified a person of interest as they investigate the apparent firebombing of a vehicle with a Hanukkah decoration in Melbourne's south-east early on Christmas Day.
Emergency services arrived in Balaclava Road, St Kilda East about 2.50am to find the vehicle on fire.
The unoccupied car had a mobile billboard reading "Happy Chanukah!" mounted on its roof.
Chanukah, also spelled Hanukkah, is the name for the eight-day Jewish festival of lights.
No injuries have been reported, but the occupants of a nearby house were evacuated as a precaution.
Rabbi Effy Block, from the Chabad of St Kilda, said he had been in contact with the affected family, which included another rabbi.
"They are OK but the car is destroyed," he said.
About lunchtime, police confirmed they had identified "a person who may be able to assist with their investigation".
Detectives are trying to find that person.
The vehicle sustained significant damage in the incident overnight. Photo: ABC / Supplied
Prime minister, Jewish leaders condemn incident
While authorities are yet to confirm if the incident was religiously motivated, local Jewish leaders have condemned it, saying their safety is being jeopardised by rising antisemitism.
Dvir Abramovich, from the Anti-Defamation Commission, said the apparent attack was another act of evil striking fear in the Jewish community.
"It's a miracle no-one was killed," he said in a statement.
"We should not confuse luck with safety.
"Things are out of control in this city and this is the new normal for Jews in Australia and what happens when hatred is allowed to spread."
Asked about the incident at a charity Christmas event in Sydney, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the prospect of another antisemitic attack in the weeks after the Bondi Beach terror attack was "beyond comprehension".
"What sort of evil ideology and thoughts at a time like this would motivate someone?" he asked.
"We know that there is evil present. We saw that with this father and son terrorist atrocity at Bondi Beach.
"We've seen it in other occurrences as well, but it is a timely reminder that overwhelmingly Australians show and are motivated by the sort of compassion, decency, kindness, generosity and togetherness that we see right here [at the event] in Ashfield this morning."
Fifteen people were killed when two gunmen opened fire at the Chanukah by the Sea event at Bondi Beach 11 days ago.
State and federal governments have been under pressure to curb antisemitism since, with the Victorian government this week unveiling a plan to crack down on hate speech and review the state's gun laws.
- ABC