Man charged in Sydney antisemitic graffiti attacks

A 41-year-old man has been charged following a coordinated police investigation under Strike Force Pearl into a wave of antisemitic graffiti attacks across Sydney’s eastern and southern suburbs, marking the latest development in the state’s ongoing crackdown on hate-fuelled crimes.

The arrest comes amid heightened community concern over a spike in antisemitic incidents, exacerbated by recent events like the January 2024 caravan bomb hoax in Dural, which was linked to individuals allegedly involved in antisemitic acts and misinformation campaigns.

The man was arrested on Thursday morning (20 March 2025) on Maloney Street, Eastlakes, by detectives from Strike Force Pearl, a dedicated NSW Police operation established in 2023 to combat racially and religiously motivated property crimes. His arrest followed multiple reports on 30 January 2025 of antisemitic graffiti defacing sites including Mt Sinai College in Maroubra, a private home on Hannan Street, a shopping centre on Bunnerong Road in Eastgardens, and a home on Sparks Street, Eastlakes. Investigators believe these incidents were linked and part of a broader, coordinated campaign of hate targeting Jewish communities in Sydney.

 

The graffiti, which included swastikas, anti-Jewish slurs, and symbols associated with extremist ideologies, caused significant distress and fear. Jewish community members as well as other local residents reported feeling violated and unsafe, with some expressing concerns about the safety of their children attending the defaced school. Community leaders emphasized the psychological impact of such attacks, highlighting the erosion of trust and sense of security within the Jewish community.

At the time, NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said the graffiti was “vile and hateful”.

“Looking at the images now, it is just grotesque and absolutely sickening that school children are going to have to walk past this repellent hate speech as they make their way into school,” he stated. “This is something we should not tolerate here in Australia.”

During the arrest, officers allegedly found the man in possession of multiple prohibited drugs. He was taken to Mascot Police Station and charged with a string of offences, including malicious property damage connected to criminal group activity, driving while disqualified, car theft, and drug possession and supply. He was refused bail and appeared at Downing Centre Local Court today (21 March 2025).

The arrest brings the total number of people arrested under Strike Force Pearl to 30, with 151 charges laid so far. Police say the strike force remains active and is pursuing several other leads related to racially motivated attacks. The strike force was initiated in response to a concerning rise in antisemitic incidents, particularly targeting religious sites and community centers, reflecting a broader trend of increased hate crimes across Australia.

This latest development comes as NSW Police and community organizations work to address the rising tide of antisemitism. Authorities have increased visible policing around schools, synagogues, and other Jewish community institutions to provide reassurance and deter further attacks. They have also partnered with community leaders to organize educational programs and interfaith dialogues aimed at fostering understanding and combating prejudice.

The January 2024 caravan bomb hoax in Dural, which involved a vehicle laden with explosives and propaganda materials, underscored the seriousness of extremist threats targeting Jewish communities. That incident, along with the recent graffiti attacks, has prompted calls for stronger measures to counter online radicalization and the spread of hate speech. Experts have highlighted the role of social media platforms in amplifying extremist narratives and inciting violence.

New arrest for allegedly helping hoax terror plot “mastermind”

Meanwhile, a Queensland man has been arrested and charged with allegedly helping Sayet Erhan Akca, a fugitive accused of orchestrating a hoax terror plot, antisemitic attacks, and a large-scale drug smuggling operation, escape Australia by boat.

Sean Eamon Ryan, 57, was taken into custody on Thursday as part of the Australian Federal Police’s (AFP) Operation Harrakis, an ongoing investigation into criminal syndicates that assist fugitives in evading law enforcement. Ryan is accused of crewing a vessel that transported Akca from Thursday Island, Queensland, to Phuket, Thailand, in September 2023, allowing him to flee trial for serious drug charges and avoid questioning about a string of antisemitic crimes in Sydney.

Akca is now considered a key suspect in the January 2024 Sydney caravan terror hoax, in which a caravan filled with explosives and a note referencing the Great Synagogue was discovered in Dural, in Sydney’s outer suburbs. At the time, NSW Premier Chris Minns called the incident “a potential mass casualty event”, but authorities later ruled it a hoax designed to create fear. Sources have told the ABC that Akca is a high-level suspect in the joint counterterrorism task force’s investigation, which is also examining a series of antisemitic arson and graffiti attacks across Sydney.

Before his escape, Akca had been charged under Operation Ironside, a global law enforcement operation that exposed criminal syndicates using the encrypted AN0M messaging platform to traffic drugs and weapons. In 2022, he was charged with importing a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs and dealing with proceeds of crime over $100,000, crimes that carry maximum penalties of 20 years to life imprisonment. Court records show that Akca was ordered to surrender his passport to the AFP in early 2022 as a condition of his bail. However, in July 2023, his bail was modified to allow him to travel to Queensland, where he allegedly boarded a boat and fled the country. A warrant was issued for his arrest in September 2023 after he failed to appear in court.

Investigators believe that Akca’s antisemitic attacks and the caravan hoax were part of a calculated effort to manipulate the legal system. Authorities say he was not a committed extremist but was attempting to leverage a lighter sentence by feeding police fabricated intelligence about a supposed terror network.

Akca had posted antisemitic slurs online for years and was suspected of orchestrating arson and graffiti attacks on Jewish targets, though police have suggested these acts were part of a criminal conspiracy rather than an ideological campaign.

Ryan’s arrest comes after a raid on his home near Bundaberg, where police seized laptops and mobile phones. An initial forensic analysis allegedly revealed communications between Ryan and offshore crime syndicates, discussing arrangements to smuggle Akca out of Australia.

Authorities say that in September 2023, Ryan and another man crewed a vessel that picked up Akca in an at-sea transfer off the coast of far north Queensland before sailing to Phuket, Thailand, where they arrived in November. Ryan has been charged with people smuggling, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment, and intentionally providing support to a criminal organization, which carries a maximum sentence of 5 years.

AFP Commander Naomi Binstead stated that authorities had “meticulously picked apart” the operation that allowed Akca to escape and warned that anyone who aids fugitives in evading justice faces severe legal consequences. Ryan is the fifth person arrested under Operation Harrakis, and law enforcement officials have indicated that more arrests are likely.

Meanwhile, Akca remains at large, believed to be hiding in Asia or Turkey, as Australian authorities work with international partners to track his movements. His escape has raised serious concerns about border security, the role of criminal syndicates in smuggling fugitives, and the growing use of antisemitic violence as a tool for legal manipulation. As Operation Harrakis continues, police remain determined to dismantle the network that enabled Akca’s escape and hold those responsible to account.