Wednesday 23 November 2022 03:23 AM YouTube star Friendlyjordies Jordan Shanks-Markovina says his Bondi home was ... trends now
Controversial YouTube star Friendlyjordies has claimed his home was firebombed in the second attack on the beachside property within a week - but says there are too many suspects to single out the culprit.
Emergency services arrived at the property in Wilga Street in Bondi, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, at 12.30am on Wednesday to find the home engulfed in flames.
The online star, whose real name is Jordan Shanks-Markovina, lives at the back of the property but was not at home at the time of the fire.
But on Wednesday, he returned home to survey the damage and said he had a 'long list' of suspects who had been angered by his political commentary and videos.
'Well obviously we don’t know who did it,' he said at the scene as investigators nearby combed the rubble and ash for clues.
'There’s a long list of suspects but no idea who it is.
Controversial YouTube star Friendlyjordies has claimed his home was firebombed in the second attack on the beachside property within a week - but says there are too many suspects to single out the culprit
'Obviously we have done some extremely dangerous reporting over the last year - I suppose of a bunch of extremely powerful people and corporations.'
'There are many people that want to do that.
But he added: 'I obviously can’t say who I suspect it is.'
Fire chiefs revealed a smaller fire had earlier broken out at the Bondi home on November 16 but was put out before it could cause any significant damage.
Mr Shanks has achieved notoriety for his political videos, which cost Google $715,000 in damages for defamation over his comments about former NSW deputy Premier John Barilaro.
Two Friendlyjordies videos - 'Bruz' and 'Secret Dictatorship', published in 2020 - included claims that Mr Barilaro was a corrupt conman who should be jailed, who committed perjury nine times and engaged in blackmail.
It saw Mr Shanks being targeted by police at the time under 'fixated people' legislation - and on Wednesday, he railed against the press and police.
Jordan Shanks-Markovina returned home to survey the damage and said he had a 'long list' of suspects who had been angered by his political commentary and videos
'I hope that the NSW Strikeforce that is supposedly set up for fixated people and terrorists would be looking into this,' he said.
'Instead of a comedian and his team for six months straight at the whim of the previous premier that all of you defended for the last 10 years.'
He told reporters outside the charred remains of his home: 'I saw all of your articles today where you all wrote the same little narrative that you all write every time.
'I would hope that you put just as much attention on the fact that that happened as you have on how you’ve tried to assassinate my character over the last year.
Earlier his law firm Xenophon Davies said they suspected the fire overnight was a potential act of terrorism and attempted murder.
Firefighters were called to Wilga Street in Bondi at about 12.30am on Wednesday, where they found the home of Youtuber FriendlyJordies engulfed in flames (pictured)
Jordan Shanks-Markovina, known as FriendlyJordies on his popular political commentary YouTube channel, lives at the back of the impacted property
'We confirm that Jordan Shanks' home was firebombed last night,' the firm tweeted. 'He is safe.
'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.'
Firefighters fought desperately to contain the blaze on Wednesday morning but the home suffered significant damage.
NSW Police are treating the blaze as suspicious.
NSW Police are treating the fire as 'suspicious' and are investigating whether it is linked to a suspected arson attack at the same property
The home was sealed of by investigators as daylight broke
Police pored over the damaged home this morning in the search for clues
Several fire crews worked through the night to tackle the blaze
Two elderly residents escaped the front of the burning property, while another three neighbours fled their home next door.
Emergency services confirmed no one was injured during the fire.
Video from the scene showed the home completely gutted by fire with rooms reduced to ash.
The closed-off street was filled with emergency service vehicles including
