Peter Khalil: ‘The smell is horrible’: Australian MP Peter Khalil’s office trashed, filled with unknown liquid

File photo: Australian MP Peter Khalil (Image credit: X/@PeterKhalilMP)

Melbourne Police are investigating an act of vandalism in the office of the federal Labor MP Peter Khalilwhich was badly damaged in the early hours of Monday, The Guardian reported.
by Khalil Brunswick office on Sydney Road was defaced with red paint, with associated symbols and slogans Hamas sprayed outside. An unknown liquid was also pumped into the building, forcing staff to evacuate.
Victoria Police reported that between 2 a.m. (local time) and 9 a.m. (local time), the suspects sprayed paint and damaged the office door. The criminals made a hole in the door and pushed the liquid in, even though no one was there at the time.
Photos shared by Khalil’s office show the inverted red triangle, a symbol associated with Hamas, painted on the door, along with phrases such as “Land Back” and “Glory to the Martyr.”
Khalil condemned the vandalism, calling it an unacceptable escalation. His staff discovered the damage when they arrived on Monday, with the strong stench inside forcing them to close the office. Khalil stated: “This behavior is not a protest; it is harmful and unacceptable both legally and morally”. He stressed the importance of peaceful protests, but called out actions that endanger people’s safety.
Elaborating on the stench, Khalil said: “We’re not sure what’s in there, the smell is horrible. It smells like a slaughterhouse and it’s hard to breathe near it.”
A hazardous material team of Fire Brigade Victoria was dispatched to the scene due to concerns about the potentially toxic nature of the liquid. An FRV spokesperson confirmed that after further testing, no flammable materials were detected and the situation was brought under control.
Khalil, who has previously faced protests from pro-Palestinian activistshe reiterated that the safety of his staff is paramount.
This incident follows protests last year where protesters placed fake corpses outside his office in Coburg.
Leaders of different parties condemned the attack. Adam Bandtleader of the Greens, emphasized the need for peaceful and non-violent protests, expressing his support for Khalil and his team.
Liberal Senator James Patterson also denounced the targeting of Khalil’s office, calling for the perpetrators to face the full force of the law.