Melbourne police are investigating an act of vandalism at the office of federal Labor MP Peter Khalil , which was severely damaged in the early hours of Monday, reported the Guardian.
Khalil’s Brunswick office on Sydney Road was defaced with red paint, with symbols and slogans linked to Hamas sprayed on the exterior. An unknown liquid was also pumped into the building, forcing the evacuation of staff.
Victoria Police reported that between 2 am (local time) and 9 am (local time), suspects sprayed paint and damaged the office door. The offenders drilled a hole in the door and pushed the liquid through, though no one was present at the time.
Photos shared by Khalil’s office show the inverted red triangle, a symbol associated with Hamas, painted on the door, along with phrases such as "Land Back" and "Glory to the martyr."
Khalil condemned the vandalism, describing it as an unacceptable escalation. His staff discovered the damage upon arrival on Monday, with the strong stench inside forcing them to close the office. Khalil stated, “This behaviour is not protest; it is harmful and unacceptable both legally and morally.” He stressed the importance of peaceful protests but called out actions that endanger people’s safety.
Elaborating on the stench, Khalil said, "We're just not sure what's in there, the smell is horrific. It smells like an abattoir and it's hard to breathe nearby it.”
A hazmat team from Fire Rescue Victoria was dispatched to the scene due to concerns about the potentially toxic nature of the liquid. A FRV spokesperson confirmed that after further testing, no flammable materials were detected, and the situation was brought under control.
Khalil, who has previously faced protests from pro-Palestinian activists , reiterated that his staff’s safety is paramount.
This incident follows last year’s protests where demonstrators placed fake corpses outside his office in Coburg.
Leaders from various parties condemned the attack. Adam Bandt , leader of the Greens, emphasised the need for peaceful and non-violent protests, expressing support for Khalil and his team.
Liberal Senator James Patterson also denounced the targeting of Khalil’s office, calling for the perpetrators to face the full force of the law.
Khalil’s Brunswick office on Sydney Road was defaced with red paint, with symbols and slogans linked to Hamas sprayed on the exterior. An unknown liquid was also pumped into the building, forcing the evacuation of staff.
Victoria Police reported that between 2 am (local time) and 9 am (local time), suspects sprayed paint and damaged the office door. The offenders drilled a hole in the door and pushed the liquid through, though no one was present at the time.
Photos shared by Khalil’s office show the inverted red triangle, a symbol associated with Hamas, painted on the door, along with phrases such as "Land Back" and "Glory to the martyr."
Khalil condemned the vandalism, describing it as an unacceptable escalation. His staff discovered the damage upon arrival on Monday, with the strong stench inside forcing them to close the office. Khalil stated, “This behaviour is not protest; it is harmful and unacceptable both legally and morally.” He stressed the importance of peaceful protests but called out actions that endanger people’s safety.
Elaborating on the stench, Khalil said, "We're just not sure what's in there, the smell is horrific. It smells like an abattoir and it's hard to breathe nearby it.”
A hazmat team from Fire Rescue Victoria was dispatched to the scene due to concerns about the potentially toxic nature of the liquid. A FRV spokesperson confirmed that after further testing, no flammable materials were detected, and the situation was brought under control.
Khalil, who has previously faced protests from pro-Palestinian activists , reiterated that his staff’s safety is paramount.
This incident follows last year’s protests where demonstrators placed fake corpses outside his office in Coburg.
Leaders from various parties condemned the attack. Adam Bandt , leader of the Greens, emphasised the need for peaceful and non-violent protests, expressing support for Khalil and his team.
Liberal Senator James Patterson also denounced the targeting of Khalil’s office, calling for the perpetrators to face the full force of the law.
You may also like
Good Morning Britain viewers 'can't watch' as presenter makes return after lengthy break
Baba Siddique Shot Dead: Apart from Baba Siddiqui, these big film personalities have also been shot dead
Lewis Hamilton's replacement reveals how Max Verstappen treats him away from the track
Has Keir Starmer had a good start as Prime Minister? Vote in our poll
