Man to front court over alleged Sydney synagogue attack

Wednesday, 22 January 2025 08:39

A 33-year-old man was arrested and charged overnight over the incident earlier this month.

Police are confident of "soon" making a second arrest linked to an alleged arson attempt at a Newtown synagogue in Sydney earlier this month as the premier said the attacks would "never" be tolerated in NSW.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb made the prediction after the arrest of 33-year-old Adam Moule in Camperdown overnight.

The arrest took place as police carried out two search warrants along Pyrmont Bridge Road.

Moule was taken to hospital under police guard, but was later released from care and charged with property damage offences, possessing suspected stolen goods, and cultivating an illegal plant.

Police also seized a number of items for examination.

Moule was refused bail and will appear in court today.

The charges relate to an alleged attempt to set a synagogue alight on Georgina Street, Newtown, on January 11.

Offensive graffiti, appearing to be swastikas, was also allegedly sprayed on the building.

Speaking to media today, Webb said police were closing in on a second arrest, which would be the 10th under Strike Force Pearl.

"A second man is still yet to be arrested but we expect to make an arrest shortly and he will also be before the court," she said.

She did not speculate on the motivation behind the attack.

Alongside the commissioner, Premier Chris Minns lauded the "excellent police work" and said the government was continuing to work on new drafts of hate speech laws.

"I'm hopeful sooner rather than later, but we want to make sure that we get it right and I can't give you a date today," he said of their delivery to parliament.

"Whether it's sentences or hate speech laws in NSW, we will leave no stone unturned in combating rampant antisemitism and violence in our community... it will never be tolerated."

But he said updates to protest laws to protect religious institutions should be in place when Parliament returns.

He also said there are now 40 full-time detectives working to track down those responsible for the alleged offences.

The arrest comes a day after a childcare centre in Maroubra was targeted in another antisemitic attack.

Fire crews were called to the centre on Storey Street in Maroubra to find the ground floor well involved in fire, along with offensive graffiti spray painted on an outside wall.

Police said the building was significantly damaged and confirmed the centre was unoccupied at the time.

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