Swastikas Graffitied on Synagogue in Latest Targeted Attack on Jews

The incident has been met with bipartisan condemnation.

Members of the Australian Jewish community hold placards and flags during a rally in Sydney on Nov. 12, 2023. David Gray/AFP via Getty Images

A synagogue in Sydney’s southwest has been branded with anti-semitic graffiti, including the word “Hitler,” in an incident condemned by all sides of politics.

Police are investigating two masked individuals seen allegedly spraying swastikas on the synagogue in the suburb of Allawah in the early hours of Jan. 10.

A NSW Police spokesperson confirmed to The Epoch Times they were continuing to investigate and urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.

“Officers attached to St. George Police Area Command are investigating after offensive graffiti was spray painted on a synagogue in Sydney’s southwest,” police said in a statement.

“The incident is believed to have occurred between 3.55 a.m. and 4.30 a.m. today [Jan. 10, 2025] on Railway Parade, Allawah.”

NSW Leader Calls Attack ‘Digusting’

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns described the attack as “disgusting,” during a press conference later that day.

“The southern Sydney synagogue was vandalised in a horrifying hate-filled attack by individuals who have hate in their heart and determined to divide our communities. The painting of a swastika on a Jewish building shows how appalling these individuals are,” he told reporters.

Minns explained the synagogue was located around the corner from his house, and revealed he had spoken to the president and vice president, who were “appalled.”

“I know the people I represent and the community I live in, completely repudiate that kind of horrifying vandalism, that horrifying violence in our community,” Minns said.

“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 revered by members of the local community, whether they’re of the Jewish faith or not.”

Meanwhile, NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the attack on the Southern Sydney Synagogue was “vile, unapologetic anti-semitism.”

“It isn’t just vandalism—it’s designed to instil fear and terror. Every effort must be made by police to catch those responsible and by the justice system to impose harsh penalties on the perpetrators,” he said on X.

The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies said no Australian should be afraid to attend their place of worship.

“No Australian should have to wake up every morning filled with apprehension about whether or not there’s been another antisemitic hate crime overnight,” the group said on Facebook.

“We are outraged by yet another disgraceful attack on a Jewish place of worship overnight. This is unacceptable and undermines the social harmony and cohesion which Australians have long treasured.

The board called for tougher hate speech laws and penalties to prevent attacks from taking place again.

“Laws must be tightened to more effectively deal with hate speech and incitement to violence and individuals who commit crimes such as this must receive penalties sufficient to ensure that such conduct is deterred and not normalised,” the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies added.

Federal Leaders Weigh In

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the targeting of the Southern Sydney synagogue with swastikas deserved condemnation.

“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,” he said.

Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, speaking from Perth, called on the perpetrators to face the “full force of the law.”

“They are hateful and no place in Australia, our tolerant multicultural community, for this sort of criminal activity. Australians should respect each other and overwhelmingly do, regardless of their faith.

“We are a multicultural nation, we need to be inclusive and cohesive and that’s what my government is determined to support,” he told reporters.

The latest incidents comes after a man was charged for allegedly making a gun gesture outside Jewish synagogue on the North Shore of Sydney on Jan. 4.

While on Jan. 6, a car in Sydney was spray painted with offensive antisemitic language in the city’s east in Queen’s Park.

The Jewish community has been targeted in multiple incidents across New South Wales and Victoria, including the firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne.