Friendlyjordies’ lawyers have claimed that the Australian YouTuber’s house was “firebombed” last night, after NSW Police confirmed they were investigating a fire at his address.
Law firm Xenophon Davis confirmed that Friendlyjordies — whose real name is Jordan Shanks-Markovina — was safe after the fire in a tweet on Wednesday morning.
“We hope that every possible police resource is dedicated today to securing evidence and intel. It might even warrant a Strike Force focused upon terrorism and attempted homicide rather than dangerous jokes,” the account tweeted.
Emergency services were called to a Bondi home at 12.20am on Wednesday, NSW Police said in a statement. The fire was extinguished after it caused significant damage to the home and a property next door. No one was hurt.
NSW Police said it is investigating links to a fire at the same address on Thursday, November 17, while a NSW Police source confirmed the fire was being treated as suspicious.
The address of the house matches public records for the address of Shanks-Markovina, known as Friendlyjordies. The fire was first reported by local news source OnScene Bondi.
Shanks-Markovina is a popular political YouTuber and comedian who was the subject of a high-profile defamation claim by former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro last year. Shanks-Markovina and Barilaro settled the case late last year after the creator paid $100,000 in legal costs to Barilaro, apologised for hurt caused and edited some of his videos.
Shanks-Markovina also faces criminal contempt proceedings launched by ClubsNSW over a video published showing an interview with a former employee who has alleged the industry’s non-compliance with anti-money laundering laws.
Shanks-Markovina did not respond to a request for comment.
Updated: 12:40PM, November 23
The risk of being a fearless and controversial investigator. I hope he’s ok
Gaming nsw have so much power, brutish behaviours and so many reasons to be pissed off. But maybe he left the kettle on… twice.
Poking the bear that is entrenched corruption always holds risks.
So the NSW Police have enough resources to send a SWAT Team to invade a private home and rough up, then arrest, a young guy who worked on political satire mocking Barillaro but not enough to protect the home of Shanks from two fire-bombings?
So much for the separation of powers.
This is frightening.
And just yesterday, the imperative to dispatch two cops to rough up and hospitalize an 80 year old harmless protester.
Any comment from Perrottet or Dutton condemning this?