Top cop’s warning after second arrest relating to Newtown Synagogue attack

The state’s top terrorism cop has issued a stern warning after police charged a second man in relation to the alleged attempt to set a Newtown Synagogue alight earlier this month.

As police charged a second man over the attack on a Newtown synagogue on Friday, the state’s top terrorism cop warned “those who are in hiding we will catch you in the end”.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton told the Saturday Telegraph he had no doubt there are a number of different motives at play “but I’ll let those investigations and court proceedings play out”.

NSW Police sources confirmed they were looking into people committing the crimes for pay - a set up referred to as air taskers for criminals.

The NSW police are not aware of any tangible evidence relating to the Sydney attacks being orchestrated abroad.

Earlier in the week the Australian Federal Police said they were “looking into whether overseas actors or individuals have paid local criminals in Australia to carry out some of these crimes in our suburbs”.

“We are looking at if – or how - they have been paid, for example in cryptocurrency, which can take longer to identify,” said AFP commissioner Reece Kershaw.

Mr Walton, Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Commander said “speaking generally, criminality evolves with the times and it’s not surprising criminals copy what they perceive as successful criminal behaviour”.

Tow people have been charged in relation to the Newtown synagogue attack. Pictured is the 33-year-old who was arrested on January 23. Picture: NSW Police

“It’s not specific to antisemetic acts, we are seeing the ‘criminals for hire’ methodology play into more incidents,” Mr Walton said.

“This doesn’t matter to us in terms of investigation and prosecution.

“Whether they’re being paid or they’re copycats or they have any other particular motive – this criminality involves conscious harm to others and those involved can expect to be dealt with accordingly.

“They are criminals committing serious crimes and we’ll put them before the court. And what those who are hiring don’t realise is that we’ll catch up with them in the end.”

Mr Walton said “you don’t give the enemy your battle plan so I’m not going to give details about how we approach these investigations but suffice to say we have many tools at our disposal.”

Meantime police charged a 33-year-old man who is due to face Parramatta Local Court on Saturday with a series of offences including destroy property in company use fire, and knowingly display by public act Nazi symbol without excuse.

The man was tasered during his arrest on Thursday and taken to hospital before being charged the next day.

He is the second to be charged after offensive symbols were seen painted on the synagogue on January 11.

Police will allege two people graffitied the building and fence, while also attempting to set the premise on fire.

A 33-year-year-old man was arrested and charged and remains before the court.

The arrest comes a day after police commissioners from all states and territories and the Australian Federal Police announced a “dedicated anti-Semitism group” consisting of a Deputy Commissioner from each jurisdiction will continue to meet, in a bid to “to reduce crime and the fear of crime”.

The move aims to bring together information and intelligence about anti-Semitism amid a rising spate of incidents in Sydney.

“The group will meet monthly to share information and intelligence and, where appropriate, use existing national arrangements to assist with both active investigations and proactive operations that may transcend state borders,” a joint statement read.

“While each agency is well equipped to deal with matters in their jurisdiction, the sharing of intelligence and information is invaluable and Australian agencies have used this approach for many years with great success.”

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