A mural at Bondi Beach has been defaced with swastika symbols for the second time in just over two months.
Police were called to the wall along Bondi’s promenade early on Wednesday after reports that two swastika symbols had been painted over sections of the mural overnight.
On another section of the mural, vandals had also painted the racist slurs: “I hate n—as” and “White power”.
It follows an incident in February, when about 20 swastika symbols were spray-painted on to a section of the mural, while another three were later located around Ebley Street in Bondi Junction.
It is understood authorities are exploring the theory that Wednesday’s graffiti was the act of a “copycat” group, imitating the incident in February.
Vic Alhadeff, chief executive of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, said the racist graffiti was evidence of “a marked rise” in anti-Semitic incidents, “on social media, in the workplace, on campuses, at schools”.
“The swastika represents the ultimate in racial hatred. It also represents the Nazi regime which our country fought against so bravely in World War II. The residents of Bondi will join all well-meaning Australians in condemning this act of blatant anti-Semitism,” he said.
Read the article by Lucy Cormack in The Sydney Morning Herald.