Second Sydney synagogue vandalised with swastikas in as many days – as CCTV captures hooded men in the act
A synagogue in Sydney has been vandalized with swastikas. CCTV footage shows hooded men in the act, just a day after another synagogue was targeted.
About ten red swastikas were spray-painted 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 at around 7.30am.
Police have since released CCTV footage of two hooded men seen outside the synagogue at around 4.25am on Saturday.
A man was seen pushing a mountain bike down the street. He was seen carrying a black backpack and also wearing a white glove on his right hand.
The other man, who appeared to be wearing a raincoat and sweatpants, was seen destroying part of the wall and fence.
Police allege the men attempted to set fire to the synagogue before leaving the scene a short time later.
The pair were later seen walking down another part of the street with the second man pushing a motorized scooter.
About ten red swastikas were spray-painted 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 at around 4.25am on Saturday (pictured)
A man was seen pushing a mountain bike down the street (pictured)
Just hours later, similar graffiti was sprayed on a house in Henry Street, Queens Park, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, at around 6.30am.
It comes after the Allawah Synagogue in Sydney’s south was also vandalized on Friday morning with several swastikas and the words “Hitler on top”.
NSW Police are investigating all three incidents and said in a statement 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 Newtown incident 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 continue to call these acts for what they are: monstrous and abhorrent,” Mr Minns said.
The Prime Minister also announced the extension of a one-off $340,000 grant for enhanced temporary safety measures for the Jewish community in NSW.
Police were seen outside the Newtown Synagogue on Saturday and the area was cordoned off with police tape.
Chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, Dr. Dvir Abramovic, told Daily Mail Australia the graffiti on the Newtown Synagogue was a “gut punch” for Jewish Australians.
The latest anti-Semtic attack comes after vandals defaced 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 few days, two synagogues – holy places meant for reflection and peace – have been defiled by acts of unparalleled malice,” he said.
“These are not merely incidents of vandalism; they are calculated attacks steeped in symbolism, intended to intimidate and sow terror.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also condemned the incident, saying in a post to X on Saturday that those who committed the act “must face the full force of the law.”
“The despicable graffiti we have seen overnight, including at the Newtown Synagogue, is abhorrent and must stop immediately,” Albanese wrote.
“We have made it illegal to use Nazi and other hate symbols because there is no place for anti-Semitism in Australia.”
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 Newtown Synagogue is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.