Man charged following string of mystery fires in Sydney’s east

Crime manager at Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command, Detective Inspector Adam Solah, said the fires were not believed to be “sinister” in motive. They are also not believed to be linked to a spate of firebombing and antisemitic graffiti now suspected to be a “con job” fabricated by organised criminals.

“The attacks appeared to be random,” he said.

The man, who appears to be Caucasian, about 180 centimetres tall, of medium build and with neck-length black hair, was captured on CCTV in September last year looking into some bins that would later be set on fire.

He was also seen walking around Reddy Street in Edgecliff just before the car was found on fire.