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Muslim community members have been sleeping overnight in a mosque in New South Wales to prevent vandalism, amid a reported rise in Islamophobic incidents following the Bondi antisemitic terror attack.
Minto Mosque in south-west Sydney has put in place additional security precautions amid an increase in threats.
One committee member from the mosque, who wished to remain anonymous, told the ABC that the overnight stays were part of increased security measures.
"Many of our community members are fearful, thinking, 'What is going to happen next?'" they said.
The ABC has also seen emails and reports documenting a sharp rise in Islamophobic abuse, vandalism and threats against mosques and Islamic organisations since December 14.
It comes as the Australian National Imams Council said its Action Against Islamophobia (AAI) initiative had recorded an almost 200 per cent increase in anti-Muslim hate incidents since the attack on December 14.
At least nine mosques and Islamic centres had reported vandalism or serious security incidents requiring police involvement, the council said.
"Callers have reported escalating abuse, threatening online commentary, increased fear for personal safety and growing anxiety that conditions will worsen in the coming days and weeks."
NSW Premier Chris Minns described the rise in attacks as "horrifying".
"So I just want to make it clear that racism will not be tolerated," he said.
"It's not vigilantism. It's not retribution. It's hateful racism in our community.
"We are on high alert and the police are absolutely vigilant for any examples of hate speech in our community."
In a statement to the ABC, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said: "All hate is wrong."
"Good Australians should never be blamed for the actions of others simply because of their background or faith," he said.
The ABC has seen the email, which called Islam "a death cult" and demanded the community "get out of Judea Christian society".
Selima Ymer, the president of the Albanian Australian Islamic Society Women's Committee, told the ABC she believed that due to its timing the Islamophobic email was a reaction to the Bondi antisemitic terror attack.
Fifteen people were killed and dozens were injured at the Chanukah by the Sea festival on December 14.
"It's worrying, because you wonder where this can lead to," Ms Ymer said, adding that the email had been reported to local police.
"It's just an email one day and then the next day it could turn into something more serious."
She said people in the Muslim community were concerned that a rise in Islamophobia could lead to terrorist violence similar to the 2019 Christchurch massacre — a targeted attack on Muslims — in which an armed gunman opened fire at two mosques, killing 51 people and injuring another 40.
One of the gunmen in the Bondi shooting, Naveed Akram, has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of wounding with intent to murder and one count of committing a terrorist act.
Police have said there were early indications the attack was inspired by Islamic State, a listed terrorist organisation in Australia.
Muslim organisations and mosques have publicly condemned the antisemitic attack, and said they stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.
Tributes at a makeshift memorial along Bondi Beach's promenade on the Day of Reflection, a week after the shooting. (ABC News: Fiona Willan)
Soon after the attack, the Australian National Imams Council issued a public statement saying that the Islamic State's "actions and ideology stand in complete opposition to the teachings of Islam and the values upheld by Muslims worldwide".
The council said the Islamic State group should be referred to only as ISIS or Daesh.
Minto Mosque in south-west Sydney has put in place additional security precautions amid an increase in threats.
One committee member from the mosque, who wished to remain anonymous, told the ABC that the overnight stays were part of increased security measures.
"Many of our community members are fearful, thinking, 'What is going to happen next?'" they said.
The ABC has also seen emails and reports documenting a sharp rise in Islamophobic abuse, vandalism and threats against mosques and Islamic organisations since December 14.
It comes as the Australian National Imams Council said its Action Against Islamophobia (AAI) initiative had recorded an almost 200 per cent increase in anti-Muslim hate incidents since the attack on December 14.
At least nine mosques and Islamic centres had reported vandalism or serious security incidents requiring police involvement, the council said.
it said.
"Callers have reported escalating abuse, threatening online commentary, increased fear for personal safety and growing anxiety that conditions will worsen in the coming days and weeks."
NSW Premier Chris Minns described the rise in attacks as "horrifying".
"So I just want to make it clear that racism will not be tolerated," he said.
"It's not vigilantism. It's not retribution. It's hateful racism in our community.
"We are on high alert and the police are absolutely vigilant for any examples of hate speech in our community."
In a statement to the ABC, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said: "All hate is wrong."
"Good Australians should never be blamed for the actions of others simply because of their background or faith," he said.
Targeted beyond NSW
In Melbourne, a prominent Albanian Mosque in the city's inner north suburb Carlton had been targeted for the first time in years after receiving a hateful email, according to its spokesperson.The ABC has seen the email, which called Islam "a death cult" and demanded the community "get out of Judea Christian society".
Selima Ymer, the president of the Albanian Australian Islamic Society Women's Committee, told the ABC she believed that due to its timing the Islamophobic email was a reaction to the Bondi antisemitic terror attack.
Fifteen people were killed and dozens were injured at the Chanukah by the Sea festival on December 14.
"It's worrying, because you wonder where this can lead to," Ms Ymer said, adding that the email had been reported to local police.
"It's just an email one day and then the next day it could turn into something more serious."
She said people in the Muslim community were concerned that a rise in Islamophobia could lead to terrorist violence similar to the 2019 Christchurch massacre — a targeted attack on Muslims — in which an armed gunman opened fire at two mosques, killing 51 people and injuring another 40.
she said.
One of the gunmen in the Bondi shooting, Naveed Akram, has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of wounding with intent to murder and one count of committing a terrorist act.
Police have said there were early indications the attack was inspired by Islamic State, a listed terrorist organisation in Australia.
Muslim organisations and mosques have publicly condemned the antisemitic attack, and said they stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.
Tributes at a makeshift memorial along Bondi Beach's promenade on the Day of Reflection, a week after the shooting. (ABC News: Fiona Willan)
Soon after the attack, the Australian National Imams Council issued a public statement saying that the Islamic State's "actions and ideology stand in complete opposition to the teachings of Islam and the values upheld by Muslims worldwide".
The council said the Islamic State group should be referred to only as ISIS or Daesh.
