Australia news live: accelerant may have been used in Sydney synagogue attack, Minns says; Dutton to launch election push with Melbourne rally
Accelerant may have been used in Sydney synagogue attack, Minns says
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns is speaking now, saying the recent events on Saturday amount to an “escalation in anti-Semitic crime in New South Wales.” He said police and government “remained very concerned that an accelerant may have been used in Newtown on Saturday morning.”
We are, of course, appalled to satisfy anti-Semitic crime on the streets of Sydney in New South Wales.
There is never any justification for this kind of racist, anti-Semitic, targeted attacks on members of our community.
We live in a beautiful, multicultural community, but it rests on the premise that people are free to practice their religion, free from discrimination, violence, hatred and racism, and that is exactly what we’ve seen over the last 48-to-72 hours.
Minns said a “comprehensive criminal investigation” is underway that includes Counter-Terrorism Command, State-Crime, “as well as local resources”.
Key events
The Premier said that police have already released video of a man wanted for questioning regarding an act of vandalism at the Alawa synagogue but there has been no information about the person’s identity.
No-one would like or tolerate or put up with this kind of vandalism, this racist vandalism on their house, their place of worship, their school, their community.
It shouldn’t be tolerated anywhere on the streets of Sydney. So if you know this individual, if you have any information as to who he is, please report it to New South Wales Police or Crime Stoppers or triple-0 as soon as possible.
Minns said the police response will continue along with an upgraded security support for Jewish institution in the coming weeks saying these events marked a “fraught time” in Sydney’s history.
Accelerant may have been used in Sydney synagogue attack, Minns says
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns is speaking now, saying the recent events on Saturday amount to an “escalation in anti-Semitic crime in New South Wales.” He said police and government “remained very concerned that an accelerant may have been used in Newtown on Saturday morning.”
We are, of course, appalled to satisfy anti-Semitic crime on the streets of Sydney in New South Wales.
There is never any justification for this kind of racist, anti-Semitic, targeted attacks on members of our community.
We live in a beautiful, multicultural community, but it rests on the premise that people are free to practice their religion, free from discrimination, violence, hatred and racism, and that is exactly what we’ve seen over the last 48-to-72 hours.
Minns said a “comprehensive criminal investigation” is underway that includes Counter-Terrorism Command, State-Crime, “as well as local resources”.
Webb said the investigation has now been taken over by counter-terrorism command, Strike Force Pearl, that will draw on local and specialist resources “when needed”.
So again, we appeal to anyone out there who knows who has perpetrated these disgusting offences to come forward and tell police who they are.
We will continue pursuing them until we find them.
New South Wales police commissioner Karen Webb says two people are being sought in connection with anti-Jewish graffiti being daubed on synagogues and homes across Sydney.
She says police are seeking two people, a man and a woman, in connection with an incident near a synagogue in Newtown on Saturday where they attempt to set the building ablaze.
Two individuals, a male and a female, yet to be identified, have attended that location and placed those markings and had also used a clear liquid that they tried to ignite and self-extinguish within three minutes.
Webb appealed to the public for information that may help identify those responsible.
This is not just hate, this is malicious and it is damage. And it could go to the death of individuals if that fire had have taken hold. This is a very serious and important matter and it is important that police receive information from the public to identify these people.
Australian-born Mary marks one year as Queen of Denmark
Tasmanian-born Queen Mary of Denmark will mark a year anniversary since her husband, King Frederik X, succeeded to the throne.
Tuesday marks the one-year anniversary of the high-stakes royal succession, after chain-smoking octogenarian Queen Margrethe announced a shock abdication after 52 years on the throne.
Mary was described by one royal house watcher, Thomas Larsen, as a “power broker” and “crucial adviser to the king”. Another, Trine Villemann, author of a book on the Danish royal household, described Mary as the “backbone” of her husband’s reign.
She’s King Mary. She’s the power behind the throne. Nothing gets done at Amalienborg Palace without Mary (or her staff’s input).
Here we have this girl from Tasmania, a completely ordinary normal girl who has not been afraid to seize power. It’s a really successful feminist story.
Villemann said Mary’s 19-year-old son, Crown Prince Christian, appears more comfortable with his future role as king than his father had at the same age.
Mary always made sure that Christian saw and learned from what his parents were doing, which means today we have this very self-assured, confident crown prince.
– AAP
Second Sydney synagogue defaced with graffiti
The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, and police commissioner, Karen Webb, will hold a press conference over a spate of anti-Jewish graffiti in Sydney over the last two days.
A second Sydney synagogue in as many days was vandalised with swastikas on Saturday. The Newtown synagogue in Sydney’s inner-west was the latest targeted, with red swastikas spray-painted across its front wall.
Police are also investigating a separate incident which involved offensive comments written on a poster in Marrickville. The vandalism came hours after similar graffiti was spray-painted on a house in Queens Park in Sydney’s east.
Minns denounced the antisemitic attacks and urged any witnesses to come forward. He also announced the extension of a one-off grant of $340,000 towards enhanced temporary security measures for the NSW Jewish community.
These people are determined to divide our community in two. We will always call out these acts for what they are – monstrous and appalling.
Swastikas were found scrawled across the Southern Sydney synagogue in Allawah on Friday morning. The place of worship is in the Kogarah electorate of the NSW premier, who said the act was committed by people “with hate in their hearts”.
– AAP
Good morning
And welcome to another Sunday Guardian live blog.
Peter Dutton will hold a campaign-style rally today to kick off the Coalition’s push towards the next federal election. The opposition leader will hold the event in the marginal Melbourne seat of Chisholm, where he is expected to focus his speech on crime and cost of living.
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, and police commissioner, Karen Webb, will hold a press conference over a spate of anti-Jewish graffiti in Sydney over the last two days. Police began the investigation after the walls of two synagogues and a home were defaced.
I’m Royce Kurmelovs and I’ll be taking the blog through the day.
With that, let’s get started …
