<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>336450</docID> <postdate>2025-01-13 12:38:26</postdate> <headline>Anti-terror cops backed to find synagogue attackers</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-336451" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/sydney-synagogue-attack-suspects-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="540" /></p> <caption>Police have released images of two people they want to speak to over a Sydney synagogue a ttack. Photo: NSW Police</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Sam McKeith</strong> and <strong>Kat Wong</strong> in Sydney</span></p> <p><strong>State leaders have moved to reassure the Jewish community that counter-terrorism police have enough resources to track down those behind the latest attack on a synagogue. </strong></p> <p>Specialist officers on Sunday took over investigation into the previous day's attack on Newtown Synagogue, in Sydney's inner west, which was spray-painted with swastikas and targeted with an arson attempt.</p> <p>The attack marks an escalation in anti-Semitic crime in the state after the recent vandalism of synagogues, cars and houses, especially in Sydney's east, home to a large Jewish community, the NSW government says.</p> <p>But acting Premier Penny Sharpe said she was confident counter-terrorism police had the resources and skills to find the latest attack's perpetrators, who remained at large.</p> <p>"They bring all of the intelligence that we have about activity that is out there," she told ABC radio on Monday.</p> <p>"They are able to co-ordinate at the local level, at the broader level, they're able to work very closely and do things like release CCTV."</p> <p>Hours before the Newtown attack, anti-Semitic graffiti was spray-painted on a house in Queens Park in the city's east, while on Friday the Southern Sydney Synagogue, in the suburb of Allawah, was vandalised.</p> <p>The government has promised bolstered security for Jewish institutions and extra resources for the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, a representative body for the community, after the incidents.</p> <p>Board president David Ossip said it was imperative that the perpetrators of anti-Semitic crimes were "swiftly apprehended and receive serious penalties" to deter further incidents.</p> <p>Ms Sharpe said her message to the Jewish community was: "We stand with you."</p> <p>"An attack on you is an attack on all of us and we will not allow it to go unanswered," she said.</p> <p>Investigators have released images of two suspects, both wearing black clothing, who they want to speak to over the attack in Newtown.</p> <p>One suspect was riding a mountain bike and the other had a motorised scooter, police said.</p> <p>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended his government's action to curb anti-Semitism following the incidents in Sydney and the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue in December.</p> <p>"I've campaigned against racism and anti-Semitism my whole life," he said.</p> <p>"We have introduced significant legislation, the first ban on the Nazi salute and hate symbols."</p> <p>The federal opposition has criticised Labor's response, claiming the government has failed to strengthen anti-hate laws and been too slow in getting the Australian Federal Police to set up an anti-Semitism task force.</p> <p>Reported cases of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia have increased in Australia since Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023 and Israel launched a war in Gaza in response.</p> </body>