A Sydney synagogue was vandalized with swastikas and antisemitic graffiti overnight, sparking outrage in the Jewish community and condemnation from both the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader.
A Sydney synagogue has been covered in vile graffiti overnight with bright red swastikas and antisemitic vandalism causing'outrage' in the Jewish community as both Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemn the'repulsive' act.The Southern Sydney Synagogue has been vandalised with vile graffiti overnight on Friday, including swastikas, antisemitic phrases and pro-Palestine slogans.
The Daily Telegraph reported two men with hoodies and masks were seen loitering around the Jewish place of worship between 4am and 5am.A Sydney synagogue has been covered in vile graffiti overnight with bright red swastikas and antisemitic vandalism causing'outrage' in the Jewish community. Picture: Tom Parrish/News Corp AustraliaSouthern Sydney Synagogue president George Foster said police notified him in the early hours of Friday morning. Picture: Tom Parrish/News Corp Australia Large red swastikas were accompanied by scrawled phrases such as'Hitler on top','f**k Jews', and'free Palestine'. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton was quick to condemn the'repulsive' attack and told Sky News such acts were a'precursor to greater evils'. “The targeting of the Southern Sydney Synagogue with Swastikas and vile antisemitic graffiti in the early hours of this morning is a grotesque act and it must be condemned. As history shows, these repulsive incidents are a precursor to greater evils, and it’s no wonder our Jewish community in Australia is living in fear,' Mr Dutton said. 'I hope the perpetrators are caught and face the full force of the law. If there’s no repercussions for committing these disgraceful crimes, there will be no deterrence. When will this lesson be learned and how many more incidents of antisemitism need to occur in our country before action is taken.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also fronted journalists in Perth and said those responsible for the attack should face the'full force of the law'. 'They are hateful and there is no place in Australia - our tolerant, multicultural community - for this sort of criminal activity,' he said. 'We are a multicultural nation. We need to be inclusive and cohesive, and that is what my government is determined to support. 'I know this occurred in Chris Minns, the New South Wales Premier's electorate and I'm sure the NSW Police will continue to take action. They need to be tracked down, those responsible, for this crime.' NSW Premier Chris Minns was at the scene on Friday morning alongside police and later fronted a press conference calling the vandals'bastards' who were trying divide the community with their'horrifying vandalism'. 'In my own electorate of Kogarah, in the suburb of Hurstville, the South Sydney Synagogue was vandalised in a horrifying hate-filled attack by individuals who have hate in their heart,' he said. 'The painting of a Swastika on a Jewish building shows how appalling these individuals are ... We have lived with the southern Sydney synagogue for many, many years, it's been in our community for decades, it's much loved and much revere by members of the local community. NSW Premier Chris Minns was present on the scene alongside police. Picture: Tom Parrish/News Corp Australia 'The government will continue to strengthen the laws, we'll continue to throw resources at this crime prevention, we'll continue to put police resourcing into preventing these kinds of acts of hate-filled vandalism, these hate crimes.Jewish Board of Deputies President David Ossip said the community was'outraged' over the vandalism and called for the end of such acts against Jewish Australians. 'We are outraged by yet another disgraceful attack on a Jewish place of worship overnight,' Mr Ossip said in a statement. 'This is unacceptable and undermines the social harmony and cohesion which Australians have long treasured. 'No Australian should be afraid to attend their place of worship or be fearful walking the streets of their community.'In 2002, the synagogue was vandalised in a similar manner, and in 1991 it was firebombed. Southern Sydney Synagogue president George Foster told the Daily Telegraph the firebombers were never caught. “I received a call from the police at around 4.30am saying they had driven by and there was graffiti all over the synagogue,' Mr Foster said. “It is deeply distressing but it’s almost inevitable given the background on the rise of anti-Semitism currently. “My parents were holocaust survivors and this has echoes of Germany 1933 with people singling out Jewish shops, religious institutions and homes by painting them with antisemitic signs. It’s unbelievable this happening in Australia.” Investigators are continuing to trawl through local CCTV footage to track down the culprits. Picture: Tom Parrish/News Corp Australia Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin called on Australians to join the Jewish community in solidarity to'publicly denounce' the debasement of'our national values'. 'The community expects swift arrests to be made and for those who deface houses of worship with the symbol of genocide to face the full force of the law,' Mr Ryvchin said in a statement. 'As long as these people evade justice for trying to terrorise Australian citizens, it will continue. 'We’re also calling on our fellow Australians, particularly those in positions of influence across society, to end the silence and publicly denounce this behaviour as repugnant to our national values and a threat to us all.' Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich denounced the'unforgiveable outrage' caused by the graffiti and and called it an act to'terrorise and dehumanise' the community. 'To defile a synagogue—a place of worship, hope, and sanctuary—with the ultimate emblem of genocide and evil is nothing short of an attack on the very heart of our nation,' he told SkyNews.com.au.'What kind of society are we becoming when Holocaust survivors who rebuilt their lives in this country now have to witness the symbols of their tormentors defacing their places of worship?
VANDALISM AUSTRALIA JEWISH COMMUNITY ANTISEMITISM HATE CRIME SYDNEY SWASTIKAS SYNAGOGUE
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sydney Synagogue Vandalized with SwastikasA synagogue in Allawah, southern Sydney, was vandalized with swastikas spray-painted on its exterior walls. CCTV footage captured two masked men carrying out the act. Police are investigating the incident, which is believed to have occurred in the early hours of Friday morning.
Read more »
Sydney Synagogue Defaced with Swastikas in Hate CrimeA synagogue in Sydney was vandalized with swastikas overnight, prompting outrage from the Jewish community and a police investigation.
Read more »
Man Charged After Alleged Gun Gesture at Sydney SynagogueA 20-year-old man has been charged with stalking or intimidating after allegedly making a gun gesture towards a synagogue on Sydney's north shore. This incident follows recent antisemitic vandalism in the city, including graffiti on a car in Queens Park.
Read more »
Man Charged Over Synagogue Gesture in SydneyA 20-year-old man has been charged with making a threatening gesture towards a synagogue worshipper in Sydney's Upper North Shore. The incident follows a string of antisemitic attacks in the area.
Read more »
Sydney Ice Dogs, Sydney Bears withdraw from 2025 Australian Ice Hockey LeagueA rink renovation has caused both Sydney teams in the national league to withdraw from the 2025 season, prompting calls for more investment to bolster the number of appropriate rinks for professional play.
Read more »
Antisemitic Vandalism Targets Jewish Homes and Synagogues in FranceFrance grapples with a surge in antisemitism as at least 10 Jewish homes and businesses, including a synagogue in Rouen, are vandalized with swastikas and hateful graffiti. The attacks coincide with the 10th anniversary of the Paris terror attacks.
Read more »