Second arrest made over synagogue graffiti, fire attack
Police have arrested a second man over a graffiti and fire attack on a synagogue as another man is held in custody over the incident.

An arrest of a second person alleged to have been involved in the attack on Newtown Synagogue Pic: NSW Police
Police have arrested a second man allegedly involved in a fire and graffiti attack on a synagogue.
Two days after Adam Edward Moule was arrested in relation to January 11’s attack on Newtown Synagogue, in Sydney’s inner west, authorities apprehended a 37-year-old man they believe was also involved.
The synagogue was spray-painted with red swastikas and briefly set alight in the early hours of January 11 before the fire went out.
Moule was arrested on Tuesday and charged with offences including arson and property damage.
He will remain in custody for at least the next two weeks after he did not apply for bail in court on Thursday.
Prosecutors said they were seeking to have the case dealt with in the District Court, where higher potential penalties apply.

Moule’s 37-year-old alleged accomplice was arrested at a hotel in inner-city Pyrmont about 1pm on Thursday after officers used a Taser during the process of apprehending him.
He was treated by paramedics before being taken to a local police station but is yet to be charged.
Premier Chris Minns congratulated the police on their “dogged” work, warning other potential offenders that investigators were not finished.
“The NSW Police Force has deployed dozens of officers determined to catch the bastards responsible for these sickening, racist crimes,” he said in a statement.
The latest arrest is the 10th by a strike force set up to investigate a spate of anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney, which have included the targeting of a childcare centre near a synagogue and the former home of a prominent Jewish community leader.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb previously said investigators were closing in on a second person allegedly involved in the Newtown synagogue incident.
Moule, 33, was also charged with allegedly growing cannabis plants and being in possession of stolen goods.
During his arrest, police allegedly found five debit cards in different names, and from different financial institutions, which police believe to have been stolen.
Ms Webb said police were still investigating the motivation behind the anti-Semitic attacks after her federal counterparts revealed they were probing the possibility that overseas actors had recruited “criminals for hire” to carry out the crimes.
“We can’t rule anything out anything and we need to keep an open mind, which we are doing,” she said.
The synagogue attackers ignited a clear liquid that burned out in minutes, but it could have had deadly consequences if it had taken hold, Ms Webb said at the time.
Moule is due to return to court on February 6.
Son of Slain Bikie Leader Charged in Antisemitic Attack and New Arrest for Newtown Synagogue Attack
Adam Hawi, 21, son of the late Comanchero bikie leader Mick Hawi, has been arrested and charged in connection with an antisemitic attack on Matt Moran’s Chiswick restaurant in Woollahra last November. The early-morning incident involved a utility vehicle being deliberately set ablaze, multiple cars damaged, and anti-Israel graffiti sprayed across the restaurant’s façade and nearby buildings.
Police allege that Hawi’s vehicle was used in the attack, and his refusal to identify the driver has raised suspicions about the potential involvement of others, fueling concerns of a wider conspiracy. This incident, along with a series of other recent antisemitic attacks across Sydney, has heightened fears of organized crime involvement, including bikie gangs, and possible foreign influence.
Hawi’s arrest is part of a broader investigation by Strike Force Pearl, a task force established in December 2024 to address the alarming rise in antisemitic crimes. Officers from the Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Command, with support from the Central Metropolitan Region, are leading the effort to investigate whether these attacks are part of a coordinated campaign.
The attack in Woollahra, which occurred in the early hours of November 21, 2024, involved a group of individuals arriving at the restaurant in a convoy of vehicles. Witnesses reported seeing a group of men—some masked—vandalizing the restaurant and setting fire to a utility vehicle parked outside. The use of anti-Israel graffiti adds a disturbing ideological dimension to the attack, suggesting possible links to extremist groups. Investigators are also examining potential foreign funding or influence in orchestrating such crimes.
Authorities have now charged a total of nine individuals under Strike Force Pearl, as investigations continue. These include four men—aged 31, 37, 40, and 26—charged in connection with arson attacks on two Bondi businesses in October 2024; three men—aged 20, 19, and 21—charged over the vandalism of 10 vehicles and buildings in Woollahra in November 2024; and a 34-year-old woman charged over similar incidents in Woollahra in December 2024. The latest arrest in Newtown adds a 33-year-old suspect to the growing list of individuals facing charges.
Hawi’s family history has further fueled concerns about his ties to organized crime. His father, Mick Hawi, was a prominent figure in the Comanchero motorcycle club and was murdered in a 2018 ambush outside a Rockdale gym.
In a related case, two men, Guy Finnegan, 31, and Craig Bantoft, 37, have been charged over an arson attack at Curly Lewis Brewery in Bondi Beach last October. The pair allegedly mistook the brewery for a Jewish deli, “Lewis’s,” and were reportedly hired via an encrypted messaging app by an individual using the alias “James Bond.” The attack caused approximately $80,000 in damages. Authorities suspect organized crime involvement and are investigating whether overseas actors orchestrated the incident.
Investigators are exploring whether these attacks are part of a broader effort funded by foreign entities. Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw has indicated that authorities are examining whether overseas individuals are paying local criminals, possibly using cryptocurrency, to carry out these crimes. This line of inquiry includes assessing the online radicalization of young individuals.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has condemned the attacks and emphasized the unity of civic leaders against such acts of hate. The state has increased policing efforts in areas with significant Jewish populations, and 40 full-time detectives are now dedicated to Strike Force Pearl’s investigations. Premier Minns has also indicated that the government is considering legislative changes to strengthen protections against antisemitism.
Hawi’s family history has further fueled concerns about his ties to organized crime. His father, Mick Hawi, was a prominent figure in the Comanchero motorcycle club and was murdered in a 2018 ambush outside a Rockdale gym.
In a related case, two men, Guy Finnegan, 31, and Craig Bantoft, 37, have been charged over an arson attack at Curly Lewis Brewery in Bondi Beach last October. The pair allegedly mistook the brewery for a Jewish deli, “Lewis’s,” and were reportedly hired via an encrypted messaging app by an individual using the alias “James Bond.” The attack caused approximately $80,000 in damages. Authorities suspect organized crime involvement and are investigating whether overseas actors orchestrated the incident.
Investigators are exploring whether these attacks are part of a broader effort funded by foreign entities. Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw has indicated that authorities are examining whether overseas individuals are paying local criminals, possibly using cryptocurrency, to carry out these crimes. This line of inquiry includes assessing the online radicalization of young individuals.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has condemned the attacks and emphasized the unity of civic leaders against such acts of hate. The state has increased policing efforts in areas with significant Jewish populations, and 40 full-time detectives are now dedicated to Strike Force Pearl’s investigations. Premier Minns has also indicated that the government is considering legislative changes to strengthen protections against antisemitism.