Australia probes after car with Hanukkah sign torched in Christmas Day attack

Australian police are investigating a “suspicious fire” after a car carrying a sign celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah was set ablaze on Thursday in Melbourne.

The empty car, which had a “Happy Chanukah” sign fixed to the roof, was scorched by the fire while parked in a house driveway, images on national broadcaster ABC television showed.

It was set alight in the early hours of Thursday morning in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda East, Victoria police said in a statement, describing it as a “suspicious fire”.

Occupants of the house were evacuated as a precaution.

“Detectives have identified a person who may be able to assist with their investigation and they are actively searching for and making inquiries into their whereabouts,” police said.