Labor MP Peter Khalil’s office has been spray-painted with a Hamas-linked inverted red triangle and the slogan “glory to the martyrs” in the latest act of vandalism to target politicians’ offices over the war in the Middle East.
The words “land back” were also painted outside Khalil’s inner Melbourne office, which was splashed with red paint, and vandals poured an unknown red substance through a hole they drilled in a door in the early hours of Monday morning.
A spokeswoman from Khalil’s office said staff had arrived at work about 8.45am on Monday to find the office had been vandalised. “Alongside the vandalism shown in photos, a hole had been drilled into the back door and a red [or] pink substance pumped into the office,” she said.
“Investigations are underway to determine whether the substance is hazardous. Staff reported an overwhelming stench on opening the door, like an abattoir.”
She said the office was closed to the public as police investigated, and staff would not be on-site.
Victoria Police confirmed they were investigating criminal damage at an office in Brunswick on Monday.
“It is understood paint was sprayed on the building on Sydney Road and a door was damaged between 2am and 9am. Officers were told offenders poured an unknown liquid through the door,” police said in a statement. “No one was inside at the time of the incident.”
The inverted red triangle painted on one of the office doors has been used by Hamas’ Al-Qassam militant brigades to identify targets such as Israeli tanks and soldiers for lethal strikes in social media videos. Since October 7 last year, the symbol has morphed into an online device shared by Hamas sympathisers as well as pro-Palestinian activists, including some unaware of its origins.
It has been displayed in pro-Palestine protests in Melbourne, including in Khalil’s inner north Melbourne seat of Wills, which Labor and the Greens are contesting fiercely ahead of next year’s federal election. Hamas is the terrorist group that controls Gaza and conducted the October 7 attacks.
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