Melbourne, Australia—— An Australian state will send more police officers to investigate a series of anti-Semitic crimes after a childcare center near a Sydney synagogue was set on fire, officials said on Tuesday.

A childcare center just a block from a synagogue in the suburb of Maroubra was also spray-painted with anti-Semitic graffiti before it was set on fire early Tuesday, police said. The building was heavily damaged, but police said no one was injured.

The arson attack is the latest in a series of targeted attacks in Australia's largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, since war broke out between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023. Sydney and Melbourne are home to 85% of Australia's Jewish population.

Fires and other attacks have targeted buildings and cars, and a fire at a Melbourne synagogue in December left one person burned.

Acting NSW Police Commissioner Peter Thurtell said Strike Force Pearl, which was established a few months ago, "will be increasing its resources from today".

"We already have significant resources, but incidents like this highlight the fact that we need to continue to invest resources to ensure these criminals are identified, apprehended and brought to court," Thurtle told reporters.

"The aim of these criminals is to disrupt our society and as a NSW Police force we will do everything we can to ensure these individuals are caught," he added.

New South Wales Premier Chris Mings said state and federal resources were being directed to tackle anti-Semitic crime.

"The rise in anti-Semitic attacks in NSW is a major concern for the state - and the number one concern for NSW," Mings told reporters.

"I can't guarantee this violence will end. There's been a wave of anti-Semitic attacks in our community. It's deeply painful," Minns added.

But Mings said the perpetrators were being brought to justice. Nine suspects have been arrested and charged over three recent anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney. All suspects remain in custody.

NSW Police have launched Operation Sanctuary to improve community safety after Israel's war with Hamas sparked pro-Palestinian protests in Sydney.

Thurtle said more than 180 people were arrested during Operation Sanctuary. He said 40 of them had been charged with specific anti-Semitic crimes.

According to the latest census in 2021, there are nearly 117,000 Jews in Australia, accounting for 0.46% of the 25.4 million residents. The government says only Israel has more Holocaust survivors per capita than Australia.