Police have arrested a second man allegedly involved in a fire and graffiti attack on a synagogue in Sydney's inner west.
Two days after Adam Edward Moule was arrested in relation to the attack on Newtown Synagogue, authorities apprehended a 37-year-old man they believe was also involved.
Detectives arrived at a hotel in Pyrmont around 1pm on Thursday and arrested the man who was tasered by police at the scene.
He was then assessed by paramedics before being taken to Day Street Police Station but is yet to be charged.
On 11 January, several red hakenkreuz symbols — the swastika appropriated by the Nazi party — were graffitied on the front fence of the synagogue on Georgina Street, and the building was briefly set alight before the fire went out.
First suspect to face court
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 is due to return to court on 6 February.
Chris Minns praises police efforts
NSW 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 antisemitic attacks in Sydney, which have included the and the.
NSW Police commissioner Karen Webb previously said investigators were closing in on a second person allegedly involved in the Newtown Synagogue incident.
Moule was also charged with allegedly growing cannabis plants and being in possession of stolen goods.
During his arrest, police allegedly found five debit cards with different names and from different financial institutions, which police believe to have been stolen.
Police continue to investigate potential overseas involvement
Webb said police were still investigating the motivation behind the antisemitic attacks after her federal counterparts revealed they were investigating the possibility that overseas actors had recruited "criminals for hire" to carry out the crimes.
"We can't rule anything out 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, Webb said at the time.
