He is the ninth person to be charged under Strike Force Pearl, which was established to investigate several anti-Semitic incidents in Sydney in recent months. Photo: 123RF
This story includes images of offensive messages and symbols.
A Sydney man has been charged with attempting to set fire to a Newtown synagogue in the city's inner west.
Police arrested the 33-year-old man from Camperdown after conducting search warrants at two addresses overnight.
He was refused bail and will appear in the Downing Centre Local court today.
Officers seized a number of items during the searches which have been taken for further examination, police said.
He is the ninth person to be charged under Strike Force Pearl, which was established in December to investigate several anti-Semitic incidents in Sydney in recent months.
Several red swastikas were also graffitied along the front fence of the Newtown synagogue on Georgina Street on 11 January.
Offensive graffiti, was found in Sydney on a synagogue and house, on 11 January 2024. Photo: Supplied/ ABC News - Anushri Sood
Police said at the time that officers were looking for two people in connection with the alleged anti-Semitic attack.
Police Commissioner Karen Webb on Wednesday morning said the matter was still under investigation but a second man is expected to arrested and charged "shortly".
A day after the incident, Commissioner Webb said that those responsible used a "clear liquid" to ignite a fire, which extinguished itself.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the arrest was a "big breakthrough".
"We will leave no stone unturned in combating rampant anti-Semitism and violence in our community. It will never be tolerated," he said.
The man was taken to Surry Hills Police Station where he was charged with destroy property in company use fire, destroy/damage property in company, goods in personal custody suspected being stolen and cultivate prohibited plant.
Offensive graffiti, was found in Sydney on a synagogue and house, on 11 January 2024. Photo: Supplied/ ABC News
He was refused bail and will appear in the Downing Centre Local court today.
Government considering making vilification a criminal offence
Minns confirmed the NSW government would be actively drafting changes to hate speech laws, alongside the Victorian government.
He said it would be "better" to move the offence of vilification under criminal law.
Vilification currently sits under the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act and is heard in Civil Court.
The change would mean police can bring the charge of vilification against an individual on behalf of the government.
"The changes to protest laws to protect religious institutions should be in place when parliament resumes," he said.
Minns said he wanted to have the "toughest laws" in Australia.
Public urged to be 'eyes and ears' for police
Commissioner Webb said she would be meeting with other state police commissioners to discuss anti-Semitism.
She urged the public to be the "eyes and ears" of the police force but said it was "highly unlikely" officers would be able to arrest perpetrators on the spot.
"We rely on information from our community, but will we be Johnny-on-the-spot and arrest somebody in the act? Highly unlikely," she said.
"We will track down these people, pursuing every line of inquiry, every investigative lead will be pursued so it is still important that members of the community call Crime Stoppers with information. They can call anonymously."
Minns warned police were pursuing "sophisticated actors" but said he had "enormous confidence" in their ability to arrest those responsible.
- This story was first published by ABC
