Police set to install CCTV, lights to unmask graffiti artist behind terror vandalism

Plans for CCTV cameras in areas with large Jewish populations are being hatched to unmask a ­serial vandal who has been ­glorifying the Hamas terror group with 129 graffiti attacks in the last month.

Plans to install CCTV cameras and lights in Sydney quarters with large Jewish populations are being hatched to unmask a serial graffiti artist glorifying Hamas terror organisation after he struck 129 times in the last month.

Waverley Council has been keen to net the beanie-wearing and masked vandal since he struck in September tagging” Hamas” on buildings and walls across the predominantly Jewish suburbs of Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama in the city’s east.

Alongside Strike Force Cadomin, set up earlier this month to identify the silent artist, the council passed a unanimous motion condemning the spate of illegal graffiti as “anti-Semitic” and specifically “targeted at the Jewish community,” on Tuesday.

Police working alongside Strike Force Cadomin has reiterated its appeal for information to help them home in on the perpetrator who has been daubing facades of “multiple structures” across the three beaches late at night since September.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has urged authorities to “put an end to this hatred” and welcomed the motion to erase the graffiti upon notification.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry chief executive Alex Ryvchin supported Waverley Council’s motion to eradicate pro-Hamas vandalism in the city’s east. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

The motion states that graffiti is a criminal act of vandalism and anti-Semitic graffiti is especially nefarious with 129 instances recorded in the last month.

In collaboration with the police and other agencies, the council has vowed to undertake an immediate security assessment to identify locations of vulnerability and examine the suitability of installing additional or higher specification CCTV cameras in specific locations and report costings of recommendations in December.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said:

“This serial vandal is no doubt deriving some perverse thrill from daubing the name of an anti-Semitic terror group in areas where thousands of Jewish families live, go to school and work.

“It is part of a sadism that is pervading our discourse where taunting Jews with swastikas, and holding the portrait of evil mass murderers like Sinwar and Nasrallah is standard fare.

“We commend the police for pursuing this individual and hope that he can soon be brought to justice.”

Waverley Council Mayor William Nemesh.

As inquiries continue, investigators have released grainy images of a man they believe might be able to assist with inquiries.

He has been seen in a grey beanie and blue face mask.

The incident was first uncovered by 2GB radio, with listeners distributing photos of the defacement.

The Jewish mayor of Waverley Will Nemesh said: “In recent months there has been a significant increase in graffiti across Waverley and especially anti-Semitic graffiti.

“Council welcomes Strike Force Cadomin and will assist the ongoing investigation to find those responsible.

“Anti-Semitic graffiti will not be tolerated. As a Council I want to make it clear that we value our Jewish community and will do what we can to ensure our Jewish community feels safe.”

Police have launched Strike Force Cadomin and are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.