Second Sydney synagogue vandalised with swastikas as NSW premier condemns ‘monstrous’ acts

A second Sydney synagogue has been vandalised with swastikas in as many days in an attack the Jewish community said was intended to erode social cohesion.

The Newtown synagogue in Sydney’s inner west was the latest site targeted, with red swastikas spray painted across its front wall.

Police are investigating the incident and attended the scene on Saturday morning. The vandalism came hours after similar graffiti was spray painted on a house on Henry Street, Queens Park, in Sydney’s east.

“The NSW Police Force takes hate crimes seriously,” a statement said.

“It is important that the community and police continue to work together to make NSW a safer place for everyone.”

The NSW premier, Chris Minns, denounced the antisemitic attacks and urged any witnesses to come forward.

He also announced the extension of a one-off grant of $340,000 towards enhanced temporary security measures for the New South Wales Jewish community.

“These people are determined to divide our community in two. We will always call out these acts for what they are – monstrous and appalling,” he said in a statement.

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president, David Ossip, said the vandalism should sicken all Australians.

“No one should think that these are just acts of vandalism. This is a concerted campaign to intimidate, harass and menace the Jewish community,” he said.

“These hate-filled cretins need to know that they will not succeed.

“The Jewish community is resilient and will not be intimidated and the broader Australian community despises these concerted attempts to erode our social cohesion and harmony.”

Police are also investigating a separate incident which involved offensive comments written on a poster in Marrickville.

Swastikas were scrawled across the Southern Sydney Synagogue in Allawah in an attack on Friday morning.

The place of worship is in the Kogarah electorate of the NSW premier, who said the act was committed by “bastards … with hate in their hearts”.

Police are investigating the offensive graffiti in Allawah.

The latest incidents follow antisemitic attacks across Sydney in recent months including Monday’s vandalism of a car in Queens Park.

In December, the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne was firebombed in a devastating attack condemned by prime minister Anthony Albanese and other leaders. No arrests have been made over the attack.

About 100,000 Jewish people live in Australia, with large congregations in Melbourne and Sydney’s eastern suburbs.