Bondi murals defaced with gold swastikas

The promenade at Bondi Beach and a local shopping centre were defaced by several gold swastikas on the weekend, prompting an outcry from Sydney’s Jewish community.

The promenade at Bondi Beach and a local shopping centre were defaced by several gold swastikas on the weekend, prompting an outcry from Sydney’s Jewish community.

The Nazi symbols were sprayed on murals on the beaches’ promenade, including one which featured an Aboriginal artwork.

The swastikas have been condemned. Picture: Monique Harmer

The vandalism was discovered on Sunday morning, with NSW Police launching an investigation and appealing for witnesses to come forward.

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies Chief Executive Officer Vic Alhadeff condemned the graffiti. “The swastika represents the ultimate in race hatred and the people of Bondi and indeed all Australians of goodwill will stand together in condemning this shocking display,” he said.

“The Jewish community is appalled at this expression of blatant racism.”

Swastika symbols were sprayed on an Indigenous mural in Bondi. Picture: Monique Harmer

A NSW Police spokesman said the Nazi signs were being treated as “malicious damage”.

They confirmed more Nazi symbols were found at a nearby shopping centre.

“Officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command attended and found a section of the mural wall had been defaced with approximately 20 symbols,” the spokesman said.

“A short time later three more were located at a shopping centre at Bondi Junction.”

The graffiti has been branded “blatant racism’: Picture: Monique Harmer

The Daily Telegraph reported last year that ASIO had formally put Sydney’s Nazi activist group Antipodean Resistance on a watchlist after the group hosted “radicalisation camps”.

The white power group covered Macquarie Graduate School of Management in Nazi posters a few weeks prior and even painted a mural of a Nazi flag on a brick wall.

University of Sydney was also target in April with students finding dozens of swastikas hidden through the campus.

NSW Police would not confirm whether the Antipodean Resistance was a suspect for the latest vandalism.

Police are investigating the offensive graffiti. Picture Monique Harmer