Two teenage boys have been charged after allegedly egging a group of women in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on the weekend, in what police now believe was a random attack.
Eggs and verbal abuse were allegedly hurled at the young women in Bondi – striking a 22-year-old – on Saturday night.
New South Wales police initially suggested the women could have been targeted in a potential antisemitic attack.
But following inquiries, there was no indication the incident was ideologically motivated, with police to allege in court the attack was “random”.
Strike Force Pearl – which was set up to probe alleged hate crimes in Sydney – was no longer investigating the matter.
The perpetrators allegedly fled in a silver sedan before crashing into a kerb in Rose Bay later on Saturday night, NSW police said in a statement on Tuesday.
The teenagers then allegedly fled the car which was located with the engine running. It contained egg cartons and an empty jerrycan, police alleged. The car was seized for forensic examination.
Strike Force Pearl’s commander, Det Supt Darren Newman, suggested on Sunday that investigators were treating the matter as a potential antisemitic attack, with the women’s clothing possibly identifying them as targets.
Police spoke to a 22-year-old woman who was allegedly struck by an egg and two witnesses who had been walking on Glenayr Avenue in Bondi at about 9.30pm on Saturday. A sign was also struck by an egg, police said.
Investigators spoke to the registered owner of the car on Sunday.
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A 16 year-old-boy who allegedly drove the car was arrested on Monday. A 14-year-old boy alleged to have been a passenger was also arrested.
The 16-year-old was charged with taking the car without the consent of the owner, negligent driving, two counts of being an unaccompanied learner driver and not displaying L plates. He was refused bail to appear at a children’s court on Tuesday.
The 14-year-old was charged with be in a car taken without consent. He was granted conditional bail to appear at a children’s court on Monday.
