Police investigate latest anti-Semitic graffiti near Sydenham station in Sydney
Australia’s peak Jewish body has warned of the danger of repeated anti-Semitic attacks going unpunished, as yet another incident of racist graffiti referencing the Holocaust emerged in Sydney.
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Australia’s peak Jewish body has warned of the danger of repeated anti-Semitic attacks going unpunished, as yet another incident of racist graffiti referencing the Holocaust emerged in Sydney.
In the latest event reported yesterday, graffiti that read “Gas the Jews” was scrawled on a wall along a footpath near busy Sydenham train station in the city’s inner west.
NSW Police confirmed it was investigating the incident and that it “takes hate crimes seriously”.
It comes only days after two synagogues in Sydney were also targeted in anti-Semitic attacks.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim said people must be charged and brought before the courts over the anti-Semitic incidents.
“This is another appalling example of what happens when hateful words become normalised and escalate into criminal deeds,” he said.
“Worse still, these latest anti-Semitic incidents have gone unpunished.
“We need to see those responsible charged and prosecuted for these offences as soon as possible, failing which we will likely see even more serious hate-motivated criminal behaviour on our streets.”
The graffiti at Sydenham emerged a day after NSW Premier Chris Minns called a press conference in which he urged anyone who had information about people committing anti-Semitic crimes to come forward.
NSW Transport Minister and member for Summer Hill Jo Haylen was appalled to hear of the attack.
“Appalled to learn there has been a vile anti-Semitic graffiti attack near Sydenham Station,” Haylen said in a statement on Facebook.
“Jewish Australians everywhere have every right to live and worship in peace, to undermine this is horrifying.
“The Inner West’s diversity is our greatest strength, and we know antisemitism has no place here.”
CCTV footage was released on the weekend showing people attacking two different Sydney synagogues – at Newtown and at Allawah – in the past week. Both buildings were vandalised with spray-painted swastikas, while a fire was also lit at Newtown.
No arrests over either incident had been made as of last night.
At the press conference on Sunday, Mr Minns singled out the Allawah incident and said there would be someone in the community with information about it, including knowing the identity of people in the vision.
“No one has come forward with information in relation to who that person is,” he said.
“That image is very clear, it did identify that individual and there is someone out there in the community who knows who this person is and they have an obligation to report it to Crime Stoppers or NSW Police.
“This escalation is very concerning … There is never any justification for this kind of racist, anti-Semitic, targeted attacks on members of our community.”
Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman condemned the attacks on the synagogues, saying anti-Semitism is an “insidious form of racism”.
“These attacks, targeting sacred spaces for the Jewish community, are appalling – I condemn them in the strongest possible terms,” Mr Sivaraman said. “We are gravely concerned that these acts of violence and desecration will only increase fear and distress within the Jewish community and further traumatise those who have already experienced rising levels of anti-Semitism.
“It is unacceptable in any form and has no place in Australia. These attacks are yet another alarming example in a deeply troubling rise of anti-Semitic incidents across the country.
“No one should ever feel unsafe or threatened while practising their faith or gathering in their place of worship.
“We must work together to build an Australia where all individuals and communities can live with dignity and respect.”
Police have urged anyone with information about the Sydenham graffiti or other hate crimes to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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