Second alleged Newtown synagogue vandal arrested
A second suspect in the Newtown synagogue fire has been arrested, with his alleged accomplice soon to face court after his arrest on Tuesday.
A second man has been arrested for his alleged part in the attempted arson of the Newtown synagogue, as the man police will argue was his accomplice prepares to face court.
NSW Police released a statement on Thursday afternoon saying they had arrested a 37-year-old man in connection with the anti-Semitic vandalism attack. He was found at a hotel on Pyrmont Bridge Rd at about 1pm, though charges are yet to be laid.
During his arrest, the man was tasered, with paramedics treating him at Day Street Police Station. Video provided by NSW Police shows officers from the dedicated anti-Semitism taskforce Strike Force Pearl leading the alleged vandal being escorted from the site of his arrest to a paddywagon.
Both in Pyrmont and upon his arrival at Day Street he is hunched over and shirtless, with what seem to be bruises along his lower back.
It comes after NSW Police arrested 33-year-old Pyrmont man Adam Moule on Tuesday for allegedly vandalising Newtown Synagogue in Sydney’s inner west with Nazi symbols and trying, unsuccessfully, to set it on fire. He was taken into custody at 7.40pm and charged with multiple offences, including destroying property using fire and stolen goods.
In the wake of the arrest, police seized some of his belongings for inspection. By 12.40pm on Wednesday, according to a court attendance notice, police found “five debit cards with different financial institutions and in different names which may be reasonably suspected of being stolen or otherwise unlawfully obtained”.
Mr Moule was set to appear before Deputy Chief Magistrate Sharon Freund at the Downing Centre Local Court before the discovery. His hearing was deferred until Thursday, before it was adjourned another two weeks until February 6. He made no application for bail and will remain in remand.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw on Tuesday said “intelligence” suggested that foreign actors could be paying local criminals in cryptocurrency to commit anti-Semitic attacks.
However, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb would not be drawn as to whether that was an active line of inquiry in regards to Moule, saying in a press conference the motive was “not yet clearly established”, refusing to clarify if any foreign interference was by individuals or states.
NSW Police previously said they were close to a second arrest over the Newtown Synagogue attack after CCTV from the scene captured two hooded men, dressed in black, spray painting Nazi symbols on the synagogue’s fence on January 11. They then appear to pour clear fluid onto the building in an alleged attempt to burn the premises.
NSW Premier Chris Minns praised the arresting officers on Thursday.
“I want to congratulate NSW Police for their dogged work investigating the Newtown Synagogue attack,” he said.
“NSW Police has now arrested 10 people under Strike Force Pearl, and investigators are not done yet.
“The NSW Police Force has deployed dozens of officers determined to catch the bastards responsible for these sickening, racist crimes.”
Nine people have now been charged under NSW Police’s Strike Force Pearl.
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