By Jessica McSweeney and Riley Walter
A teenager has been arrested and another is on the run after they were allegedly caught in the act of drawing a large swastika on a northern beaches toilet block.
Two teenage boys were spotted by a resident at about 8.30pm on Wednesday allegedly drawing the Nazi symbol along with other offensive graffiti near the Dee Why Surf Life Saving Club.
Police are investigating after two teenagers were caught allegedly drawing a large swastika on a toilet block at Dee Why.Credit: Nine News
The pair were allegedly using markers to draw on the walls of the toilet block.
Police were called and arrested a 16-year-old boy at the scene. He is assisting with inquiries. He has not been charged and was released.
The other boy has not spoken to police.
Footage aired by Nine News shows two people drawing the swastika on the toilet block, with one appearing to glance back in the direction of the camera.
Shortly after, a man can be seen running towards the block in an attempt to help police capture the alleged vandals.
“I got out of the car and thought I’d try and help, and come from the other side [to police] to sort of surround the boys so that they weren’t able to easily escape,” the man told Nine News.
The 16-year-old boy reportedly returned to the toilet block on Thursday morning to film and photograph the vandalism.
He did not answer repeated questions from reporters as he covered his face.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin described it as an “affront” to Jewish Australians.
“This is an affront not only to the Jewish community as the primary victims of Nazism but to our fundamental Australian values of democracy and individual freedoms, which are the polar opposite of Nazism,” he said.
“We need to understand what is happening in homes and schools that is causing young people to be increasingly drawn to extremist ideologies. These movements lure young people in with promises of belonging and a sense of mission but they only bring misery to individuals and societies. We must equip families and educators with the tools to understand radical ideology and how to repel it.”
NSW Police said investigations into the incident were ongoing.
Northern Beaches Council was notified of the vandalism on Thursday morning and is having the graffiti removed.
“Council takes this kind of offensive graffiti very seriously,” a spokeswoman said in a statement.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The incident comes after ASIO chief Mike Burgess on Monday warned Australian teens were increasingly caught up in extremism. This week the national terrorism threat level was raised from possible to probable.
“Extremist ideologies, conspiracies, misinformation, are flourishing in the online ecosystem, and young Australians are particularly vulnerable,” he said.
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