Counter-terrorism police have taken over the investigation into the vandalism of a swastika at a Sydney synagogue as the Police Commissioner and Prime Minister appeal to the public to help catch the perpetrators.
Jewish leaders said a red swastika was spray-painted on the front wall of Newtown Synagogue in Sydney's inner west at about 4.30am on Saturday in the latest anti-Semitic attack. criticized.
They also ignited a clear liquid, which burned out within minutes, but the consequences could have been fatal had the fire spread, NSW Police Commissioner Cullen said. Webb said on Sunday.
NSW Jewish Parliament President David Ossip said the “hateful criminals” were not only trying to desecrate the place of worship, they were trying to destroy it.
“This was an attempted terrorist act that endangered the safety and property of residents sleeping peacefully in homes near the synagogue,” he said.
Mr Webb said the investigation had been turned over to the Counter-Terrorism Command's Hate Crimes Unit.
“I appeal to anyone who knows the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to come forward and tell police who they are,” she said.
“Other on-site investigations have revealed graffiti on rideshare bikes and skate parks, and unless there is any indication that there is a connection, on-site investigations will continue.”
There has been a spate of anti-Semitic attacks in Australia.
In December, the Adas Israel synagogue in Melbourne was set on fire in an attack that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other leaders condemned.
Hours before the Newtown attack, similar graffiti was spray-painted on a house in Queens Park in the city's east, and a car and trailer were vandalized.
A south Sydney synagogue in Arawa was vandalized with a swastika on Friday, and police are also investigating offensive comments made on posters in Marrickville.
Police have released an image of a man wanted for questioning in connection with the Arawa attack, but New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said no one had yet been identified.
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“There are people in the community today who know who this person is,” he said. “You have a duty to report it to Crime Stoppers or the New South Wales Police.”
Mr Minns said the comprehensive police response would continue, as would government support to Jewish organizations to strengthen security in the coming weeks.
“This is obviously a difficult time in the city's history, but we need to come together,” he said.
“We live in a beautiful, multicultural community that is predicated on the premise that people can practice their religion free from discrimination, violence, hatred and racism, and that is exactly what has happened for the past 48 years. That's what we've seen in the 72 years since 'hours. ”
Inner West Mayor Darcey Byrne also condemned the “appalling and despicable” vandalism, saying: “These continued baseless attacks go against everything our multicultural and multi-religious Inner West community stands for. It's against the law.”
Investigators released images of two people dressed in black trying to talk about the attack in Newtown.
One was riding a mountain bike and the other was riding an electric scooter.
The rise in hate speech and threats in Australia has been linked to the Gaza conflict.
Racism Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman said in December that anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and racism against Arabs and Palestinians had increased dramatically.
