Australia Investigates Third Threat Against Sydney Mosque Before Ramadan

Australian authorities are investigating a threatening letter sent to Sydney's largest mosque, marking the third such incident as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan approaches. The letter contained hateful imagery and death threats, prompting increased security measures and community concerns.

SYDNEY – Law enforcement officials in Australia have opened an investigation following the delivery of a menacing letter to Sydney’s largest Islamic worship center, marking the third threatening incident as Muslims prepare for their holy month of Ramadan.

The correspondence, delivered Wednesday to Lakemba Mosque in western Sydney, included an offensive drawing of a pig along with death threats targeting what the sender called the “Muslim race,” according to local news outlets.

Authorities have collected the letter for laboratory analysis and announced plans to increase patrols around houses of worship, including the targeted mosque, as well as community gatherings.

This most recent threat follows a previous menacing message delivered to the same mosque several weeks earlier, which showed an image of Muslim worshippers trapped in a burning religious building.

Law enforcement has also apprehended and filed charges against a 70-year-old individual connected to a third threatening correspondence sent to mosque personnel in January.

The organization that operates the mosque, the Lebanese Muslim Association, has contacted government officials requesting additional funding for extra security personnel and surveillance equipment, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

During Ramadan, approximately 5,000 worshippers are anticipated to visit the mosque nightly. Government census data shows that more than 60% of Lakemba’s population identifies as Muslim.

Canterbury-Bankstown council Mayor Bilal El-Hayek, whose jurisdiction includes Lakemba, described the community as feeling “very anxious.”

“I’ve heard first-hand from people saying that they won’t be sending their kids to practice this Ramadan because they’re very concerned about things that might happen in local mosques,” he said.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed strong disapproval of the recent series of threats.

“It is outrageous that people just going about commemorating their faith, particularly during the holy month for Muslims of Ramadan, are subject to this sort of intimidation,” he told ABC radio.

“I have said repeatedly we need to turn down the temperature of political discourse in this country, and we certainly need to do that.”

A government-commissioned study indicates that hostility toward Muslims has increased across Australia since the Gaza conflict began in late 2023.

The Islamophobia Register Australia has recorded a 740% surge in incident reports following the December 14 Bondi mass shooting, where officials say two attackers with Islamic State connections killed 15 people at a Jewish holiday gathering.

“There’s been a massive increase post-Bondi,” Mayor El-Hayek said. “Without a doubt, this is the worst I have ever seen it. There’s a lot of tension out there.”