Australia is investigating whether local criminals were paid by foreign actors to carry out a spate of anti-Semitic attacks, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

Australian police have said foreign actors could be funding a recent wave of antisemitic attacks, as authorities struggle to respond to violent incidents targeting synagogues and neighbourhoods with Jewish communities in Sydney and Melbourne.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australian detectives are investigating whether foreign actors are paying criminals to commit antisemitic attacks in the country, police said on Wednesday.

The police said they were investigating whether “overseas actors” were involved the vandalizing of synagogues and a day care center.

Detectives in Australia are investigating whether foreign actors paying criminals are behind the recent string of antisemitic attacks.

Australia has been grappling with a spate of antisemitic attacks on synagogues, buildings and cars since the beginning of the Israel-Gaza war in late 2023.