Sydney synagogue attack condemned as ‘massive escalation’ in antisemitism
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Images released by police show two people spray painting synagogue’s fence and building. The state premier of Australia’s New South Wales has labelled Saturday’s attack on a synagogue a “massive escalation” in antisemitic crime in the state, as police confirmed that the attack was an attempted arson.
![[This frame grab taken from video footage provided by the Australian Broadcast Corporation (ABC) on December 11, 2024 shows a police officer walking past a torched car being removed in front of anti-Israel graffiti]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/12/09/SEI232769604.jpg)
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Chris Minns said antisemitic graffiti appearing on the synagogue in Newtown suburb was “very concerning, not just for the Jewish community but for the wider community.”. Police confirmed on Sunday morning that apart from red Nazi swastikas painted on the synagogue’s fence, an arson attempt was also made on the building.
They released images of two people wearing light-coloured shoes, black hoodies, and dark clothing attending the Newtown synagogue at about 4.25am. The image shows the two spray painting the fence and the building, before attempting to set fire to it. The fire didn’t take hold and was extinguished by itself in minutes, NSW commissioner Karen Webb said.
“This is an escalation in anti-Semitic crime in New South Wales. Police and the government remain very concerned that an accelerant may have been used,” Minns, the leader of Australia’s most populous state, said on Sunday in a televised media conference.
“In the last 24 hours, these matters have now been taken over by counter-terrorism command.”. Australia has witnessed several anti-semitic incidents over the last year, since the Israeli ground offensive into Gaza following Hamas’s attack on Israel.
