The New South Wales police strike force dedicated to investigating antisemitism has charged another individual after officers allegedly witnessed a man drawing Nazi symbols, including a swastika, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
In a statement, police reported that officers from the Strike Force Pearl proactive team were conducting “high-visibility patrols” around 4:30 p.m. on Friday when they observed a man using a marker pen to write on a wall along Anzac Parade in Kingsford.
Upon arresting the man, officers discovered that the wall had been “defaced with multiple drawings and writings, including a Nazi symbol and a swastika,” according to police claims.
The 37-year-old suspect was taken into custody at Maroubra police station and formally charged with “knowingly displaying by public act a Nazi symbol without excuse.”
He was denied bail and was scheduled to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Saturday.
NSW Police Increases Resources for Antisemitism Investigations
On Saturday morning, police also confirmed that a previously announced plan to double investigative resources had now been implemented.
According to NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb, 40 dedicated investigators had been deployed to Strike Force Pearl. So far, 11 people had been charged, with that number expected to grow.
“Children should not feel scared to go to school, and people should not be afraid to attend prayer or practice their faith,” Webb stated.
Man Charged For Anti Semitic Activities
“The additional investigators assigned to Strike Force Pearl will ensure that those responsible for antisemitic acts are caught and held accountable in court.
“I want to reassure the Jewish community that we are committed to finding and prosecuting those responsible for these hateful crimes.”
Webb spoke alongside NSW Premier Chris Minns during a press briefing on Saturday morning.
Minns emphasized that the government was working on advancing legislation concerning hate speech and would consider implementing harsher penalties for individuals who commit racially motivated attacks.
“I want to be clear: whether it’s malicious damage, vandalism, graffiti, or a potential mass casualty event—terrorism in our streets—we consider all of it appalling and will take every possible measure to combat it,” he said.
“I strongly believe that violent acts don’t start with violence; they begin with hateful words spoken earlier in the process.”
NSW Police Address Concerns Over Future Threats
Webb acknowledged the possibility of further incidents but assured the public that law enforcement remained vigilant.
“We want to reassure the community that we are actively addressing these concerns,” she said.
“While we cannot guarantee there won’t be future attacks, we can certainly promise that police will investigate every single case, arrest those involved, and ensure they are brought before the courts.”
