Victoria police are investigating a video of a person claiming credit for the vandalism of three cars outside a defence industry business linked to Israel, while clad in a black balaclava and standing in front of a Palestinian flag.
The person, whose voice is digitally altered in a video seen by Guardian Australia, claims to represent an “anonymous cell” that torched three cars at Lovitt Technologies. The company supplies parts to the global F-35 joint strike fighter program.
The anonymous group has also shared videos of the vandalism and that appear to have been filmed by one person wearing a GoPro camera. The videos match CCTV footage released by police earlier this week.
The anonymous group claims Lovitt Technologies was targeted due its support of the joint strike fighter program. The jets are used by Israeli military and their global supply chain has been subject to fierce political debate in Australia and a major legal challenge in the UK.
The video, which is now being investigated by police, raises the prospect of further vandalism or targeted action.
“This was not an accident nor thoughtless vandalism,” the person said.
“If you continue making weapons components of any kind there will be consequences … Stop arming Israel or else …”
The video contained other threats that the Guardian has chosen not to report.
A Victoria police spokesperson said “detectives are aware of an email and vision circulating from a group referring to an incident in Greensborough on 5 July”.
“An investigation into the incident is ongoing,” the spokesperson said.
Lovitt Technologies was contacted for comment.
According to police, five people gained access to the business at about 3.55am on Monday before setting fire to three cars.
“The group also used red spray paint to write various slogans on the cars and on a building wall,” a police spokesperson said earlier this week.
“One of the vehicles was destroyed, while the other two sustained moderate damage. Detectives believe the group left the business via a back fence and were last seen travelling in a south-westerly direction along Plenty River on e-bikes.”
Victoria police released CCTV footage of the vandalism earlier this week and appealed for anyone who may have witnessed it to contact them with information.
“While investigators continue to liaise with Counter Terrorism Command to establish if there are any connections to the arson on the synagogue in East Melbourne and a public order incident on Hardware Lane, at this time no links have been identified,” the police spokesperson said on Monday.
The video did not reference any other incidents.
