A synagogue in Sydney has been vandalised with swastikas, with CCTV showing hooded men in the act, just a day after another synagogue was targeted.
Around 10 red swastikas were sprayed on the front walls of the Newtown Synagogue, on Georgina Street, in Sydney’s inner-west, in the early hours of Saturday.
NSW Police were notified of the incident around 7.30am.
Police have since released CCTV footage of two hooded men seen outside the synagogue around 4.25am on Saturday.
One man was seen pushing a mountain bike along the street. He was seen wearing a black backpack and was also wearing a white glove on his right hand.
The other man, who appeared to be dressed in a wet weather jacket and tracksuit pants, was seen vandalising a part of the wall and the fence.
Police allege the men attempted to set the synagogue on fire before they left the scene a short time later.
The pair were later seen walking down another part of the street with the second man seen pushing a motorised scooter.
Around 10 red swastikas were sprayed on the front walls of the Newtown Synagogue (pictured), on Georgina Street, in Sydney’s inner-west, in the early hours of Saturday
Police have since released CCTV footage of two hooded men seen outside the synagogue around 4.25am on Saturday (pictured)
One man was seen pushing a mountain bike along the street (pictured)
Just hours later, similar graffiti was spray painted on a house in Henry Street, Queens Park, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs around 6.30am.
It comes after the Allawah synagogue in southern Sydney was also vandalised with several swastikas and the words ‘Hitler on top’ on Friday morning.
NSW Police are investigating all three incidents and said in a statement that they take all hate crimes seriously.
‘It is important that the community and police continue to work together to make NSW a safer place for everyone,’ they said.
NSW Premier Chris Minns condemned the incident in Newtown and urged anyone who may have witnessed the act, to come forward.
‘These people are determined to divide our community in two. We will always call out these acts for what they are – monstrous and appalling,’ Mr Minns said.
The Premier also announced the extension of a one-off grant of $340,000 towards enhanced temporary security measures for the NSW Jewish community.
Police were seen outside the Newtown Synagogue on Saturday and the area had been cordoned off with police tape.
Chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission Dr Dvir Abramovich told Daily Mail Australia the graffiti on the Newtown Synagogue was a ‘gut-punch’ to Jewish Australians.
The latest antisemtic attack comes after vandals daubed the Southern Sydney Synagogue in the suburb of Allawah with a swastika and the words ‘Hitler on top’
Dr Abramovich described the vandalism as ‘grotesque’.
‘In just a matter of days, two synagogues—sacred places meant for reflection and peace—have been defiled in acts of unparalleled malice, he said.
‘These aren’t mere incidents of vandalism; they are calculated assaults drenched in symbolism meant to intimidate and sow terror.’
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also condemned the incident and said in a post to X on Saturday that those who committed the act ‘should face the full force of the law’.
‘The vile graffiti we’ve seen overnight, including at the Newtown Synagogue, is abhorrent and needs to stop immediately,’ Mr Albanese wrote.
‘We made it illegal to use Nazi and other hate symbols because there’s no place in Australia for antisemitism.’
About 100,000 Jewish people live in Australia, with large congregations in Melbourne and Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Anyone with information about the incident at the Newtown Synagogue has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
