Newtown Synagogue Vandalised With Swastikas Over Weekend

Newtown Synagogue Vandalised With Swastikas Over Weekend
Image: zannmaxwell/Instagram

A synagogue in Newtown was vandalised early Saturday morning, with multiple swastikas spray painted in red across its front wall.

Police said that the vandals also ignited a clear liquid that burned out within minutes, but could have resulted deadly consequences if it held.

The act comes only a day after a similar attack on a synagogue in a in Sydney’s south, and mere hours after graffiti was painted on a house in Queens Park.

Counter-terrorism police have taken over the investigation, and have released images of two people clad in black clothing they want to speak to about the attack.

“They bring all of the intelligence that we have about activity that is out there,” acting NSW premier Penny Sharpe told ABC radio on Monday.

“They are able to co-ordinate at the local level, at the broader level, they’re able to work very closely and do things like release CCTV.”

In light of the attacks, the Minns government issued a one-off grant of $340,000 to the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies to enhance security measures for the state’s Jewish community.

“These people are determined to divide our community in two,” the premier said. “We will always call out these acts for what they are – monstrous and appalling.”

Minns also announced his intention to introduce new legislation to protect religious institutions and places of worship once Parliament returns.

Politicians and local groups condemn anti-Semitism

Member for Newtown, Jenny Leong, denounced the act, writing in a statement on Instagram that anti-Semitism was unacceptable.

“Everyone has a right to feel safe at home and in their places of worship.

“Nazi symbols are not okay – ever. Not in Newtown, not anywhere.”

Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said reported incidents of anti-Semitism were increasing in the area, and called on the community to stop the spread.

He also called on elected Inner West representatives to “combat anti-Semitism, not inflame it”.

“For months now local Jewish leaders have been pleading with local representatives in the Inner West to turn the temperature down and to help reduce tensions.”

“Unfortunately, not all local politicians have heeded these calls.

“Our community must unite to eliminate antisemitism, but that won’t happen if our elected representatives are continually sowing the seeds of division.”

Local community group, Inner West for Palestine, who are working to push the Inner West council to participate in the BDS movement, said in a statement to Instagram that the graffiti and other neo-Nazi threats were a danger to the community.

“As a community who come together for peace, freedom and liberation for all, we will continue to demand our governments n all levels to meaningfully address racism, including Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, and colonialism.

“They must end support for the genocide against Palestinians, stop conflating Jewish identity with state violence and accelerate the treaty process of the Indigenous peoples of this land.”

In a statement to CityHub following Mayor Byrne’s announcement to stop Inner West anti-Semitism, the group said that “if Mayor Darcy Byrne would like to address anti-Semitism in the Inner West, we implore him to actually sit down and learn from local Jewish activists and scholars why his support for Zionism is anti-Semitic, and we will be happy to arrange such a meeting.”

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