US consulate in Sydney smashed with hammer in apparent Palestine protest

The US consulate in one state has been vandalised for the second time in as many months in an apparent pro-Palestine protest.

The US consulate in North Sydney has been vandalised for the second time in as many months after police say a person smashed windows with a sledgehammer.

Police were called to the diplomatic mission on Miller St shortly after 3am on Monday after nine windows were smashed and the door painted with graffiti.

CCTV sourced by police shows a person in a dark-coloured hoodie with their face obscured carrying what appears to be a “small sledgehammer”.

Asked about the damage, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was “not the Australian way” and urged for tensions to be cooled.

“We should be able to have views, including on issues which are difficult – the Middle East conflict is a difficult issue, it is complex,” he said.

“People should have respectful political debate and discourse that is in everyone’s interest. People are traumatised by what is going on in the Middle East.

The US consulate in North Sydney was allegedly vandalised on Monday. Picture: Sky News

“I reiterate my call to turn the heat down … measures such as painting the US Consulate do nothing to advance the cause of those who have committed what is crime.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns warned the alleged culprit of the attack that it was a “criminal act” and that they “will be charged by NSW Police”.

“I don’t think it’s the kind of public debate that the overwhelming majority of Australians want to have,” Mr Minns said.

“Even if there’s disagreement about events taking place overseas, no one wants to see violence or malicious damage in NSW and I think it’s reprehensible.

NSW Premier Chris Minns condemned the attack. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

“It’s an indication of a kind of coarsening of the public debate that no one needs in Australia.

“We can make our point in this country without resorting to violence or malicious damage; this kind of behaviour will be investigated and punished by NSW Police.”

The Premier went on to describe what he said was the “level of arrogance” of those alleged behind the attack, as well as the blockading of MP offices in the state.

Police have since appealed for anyone in the area at the time of the incident or who may have witnessed it to come forward or to contact Crime Stoppers.

A view of the US Consulate in North Sydney after it was attacked. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Images from the consulate appear to show the windows painted with an inverted red triangle, a common symbol of recent pro-Palestine protest.

First appearing in Hamas war footage, the image has since gone on to become a symbol of Palestinian resistance internationally amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

In April, the US consulate was vandalised with red paint and the words “Free Gaza” before its Melbourne counterpart was also attacked the following month.

Originally published as US consulate in Sydney smashed with hammer in apparent Palestine protest