Australian police launched an urgent investigation after a third threatening letter was sent to Lakemba Mosque in Sydney, the nation’s largest Islamic house of worship. The letter, received on the eve of Ramadan, contained a drawing of a pig and a death threat directed at the “Muslim race.” It reportedly referenced the 2019 Christchurch shooter, fueling significant fear within the community.
Australian police said on Thursday they had launched an investigation after a threatening letter was sent to the country’s largest mosque, the third such incident in the lead-up to Ramazan.https://t.co/AoafLqhBTd
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) February 19, 2026
The Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA) confirmed this is the third such incident in one month. Previous letters included a depiction of the mosque on fire and a separate message for which a 70-year-old man was arrested in January. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the “outrageous” intimidation, noting that anti-Muslim sentiment has spiked 740% since the December 14 Bondi mass shooting, where 15 people were killed. In Lakemba, where 61.2% of the population (approximately 10,462 people) identifies as Muslim, local leaders are now seeking federal funding for private security guards and upgraded CCTV.
Mayor Bilal El-Hayek expressed deep concern that many families are now too afraid to send their children to the mosque. Despite the tension, the popular Ramadan Night Markets are proceeding as planned, with authorities emphasizing that “the law must protect all Australians.”
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