Man Accused of Newtown Synagogue Attack Nicknamed ‘Nazi’ & Attacked in Prison

One of the two men accused of an antisemitic arson attack on a Newtown synagogue has been assaulted in prison and is now held in protective custody.

Last month, Adam Moule and Leon Sofilas allegedly spray-painted 10 swastikas on the synagogue in Sydney’s inner west. Both men were also alleged to have attempted to set fire to the synagogue. 

On Thursday, the Downing Centre Local Court heard that both Moule and Sofilas were “motivated by a hatred” of Jewish people when they allegedly tried to firebomb a synagogue which was also spray painted by red swastikas. 

The details of the attack can now be reported after a magistrate denied a request to release the accused arsonists and refused to close the court to the media and public, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald. 

Court hears that man accused of Newtown synagogue attack called ‘Nazi’ in prison

The court also heard that one of the accused, Leon Emmanuel Sofilas, had been targeted in jail and had earned the nickname “Nazi” from other inmates.

Sofilas’ lawyer, Steve Mav, informed the court that his client had been attacked twice in prison, first by four men, and later by seven.

Sofilas has since been placed in protective custody. 

“The attacks came after word emerged he was a ‘Nazi’,” Mav said.

“Inmates somehow got word that this man is a white supremacist. The nickname they have given him is ‘Nazi’. Word got around the prison there is a white supremacist.”

Mav informed the court that his client had been tasered 11 times during his arrest. The magistrate noted that this information was not included in the police statement. 

Moule and Sofilas denied bail 

Moule and Sofilas appeared via video in Downing Centre local court on Thursday when their individual solicitors made applications for them to be released on bail.

However, Magistrate Greg Grogin denied their application for bail, stating there was a significant risk that both of them would commit another offence. 

“It is said that this offence was a hate-motivated crime,” the magistrate said. The attack was “random” in nature but “planned insofar as there was liquid there and taken to the location”, Grogin told the court. 

“The random nature of this offence is of great concern to the court.”

Moule and Sofilas are due to face court again on 3 April.