Police hunt man and woman after 'disgusting synagogue attack

Sunday, 12 January 2025 13:56

The premier denounced the antisemitic graffiti found sprayed on Newtown Synagogue on Georgina Street, Newtown and described the act as an act of "violence, hatred and racism".

Accelerant may have been used in an attempt to set ablaze a Sydney synagogue in an antisemitic attack, NSW Premier Chris Minns said, as photos of a man and a woman police want to speak to were released.

The premier denounced the antisemitic graffiti found sprayed on Newtown Synagogue on Georgina Street, Newtown in the Inner West and described the act as an act of "violence, hatred and racism".

"Police and the government remain very concerned that an accelerant may have been used in Newtown on Saturday morning," Minns said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns addresses media after a Sydney synagogue was attacked.

"We are of course appalled to see antisemitic crime on the streets of Sydney in NSW, there is never any justification for this kind of racist, antisemitic targeted attacks on this community."

"We live in a beautiful, multicultural community.

"But it rests on the premise that people are free to practise their religion, free from discrimination, violence, hatred and racism, and that is exactly what we've seen over the last 48 to 72 hours.

Minns said a comprehensive criminal investigation into the attack, which includes counter-terrorism officers, state police and 'local resources', is now underway.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the investigation is being run by counter-terrorism command Strike Force Pearl and appealed to the public for any information.

"Again, we appeal to anyone out there who knows who has perpetrated these disgusting offences to come forward and tell police who they are," Webb said.

"We will continue pursuing them until we find them."

Webb said police are seeking two people over the incidents, which saw anti-Jewish graffiti sprayed on synagogues and homes across Sydney.

She said the suspects had allegedly attempted to set the synagogue in Newtown alight.

Police have released CCTV images after offensive graffiti was sprayed on a synagogue in Sydney's Inner West

"Two individuals, a male and a female, yet to be identified, have attended that location and placed those markings and had also used a clear liquid that they tried to ignite and self-extinguish within three minutes," she said.

"This is not just hate, this is malicious and it is damage. And it could go to the death of individuals if that fire had have taken hold.

"This is a very serious and important matter and it is important that police receive information from the public to identify these people."

Persons of interest after synagogue attack in Newtown

Officers yesterday were notified at about 6:30am after graffiti containing antisemitic language was spray painted on a house on Henry Street, Queens Park.

At 7.30am, another set of graffiti which included swastikas painted on a synagogue in Newtown, was reported to police .

The incidents follow a slew of antisemitic attacks in Sydney, including the vandalism of an Allawah synagogue on Friday involving graffiti of swastikas and references to Hitler, which is still currently under investigation.

Two unidentified culprits of Friday's graffiti were caught on CCTV footage, and Minns denounced the offenders as "bastards that are determined to rip our community in two".

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