An overseas trip with friends has been foiled by police who have arrested a man they allege was behind a spree of antisemitic vandalism in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Mohommad Farhat, 20, will spend at least the next two weeks in a jail cell before being able to apply for bail.
He was ready for an international flight to Bali when officers moved in with handcuffs.
He is accused of setting cars alight and spray painting racist slurs across several vehicles and buildings in Woollahra on Thursday morning.
Chiswick, the restaurant of celebrity chef Matt Moran, was also targeted.
Police estimated the cost of the damage to the cars to be in excess of $70,000.
The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies said the arrest “will give some local families relief after they were senselessly and maliciously targeted”.
The three friends Farhat was supposed to be going away with this morning say they booked the holiday months ago.
Instead of boarding the plane, they spent the day at court supporting him.
He is now facing 21 offences.
The charges include destroying or damaging property, entering a building or land with intent to commit an indictable offence, blackening a face or disguising with intent to commit an indictable offence and behaving in an offensive manner near a public place or school.
Two masked figures were seen running from the area that night, suggesting another person may be involved.
Investigations are continuing.
