NSW Police investigate 'offensive graffiti' sprayed on walls at mosque in Sydney's west
The walls of the Rooty Hill Masjid mosque at Mount Druitt have been graffitied with slogans targeting the prime minister and migrants. (Supplied: Blacktown City Council)
In short:
NSW Police are investigating a graffiti incident at the Rooty Hill Masjid in Mount Druitt.
The phrases "no migrants", "Hamas Albo", and "Albo liar" were found on the walls of the mosque and on the fence of a nearby house.
Federal ministers have condemned the vandalism, labelling it "disgusting", with the attack having "no place in Australia".
Federal ministers have condemned the vandalism of a mosque in Sydney's west sprayed with what police have called "offensive graffiti" targeting the prime minister and migrants.
NSW Police has confirmed it is investigating the attack after the Rooty Hill Masjid at Mount Druitt was defaced with the phrases "No migrants", "Hamas Albo", and "Albo liar" in black spray paint.
Graffiti removalist crews from Blacktown City Council were first alerted to the vandalism about 11:10am on Friday and were in the process of erasing the paint as dozens of worshippers arrived for midday prayers.
NSW Police say they are investigating the attack. (Supplied: Blacktown City Council)
Just a few hundred metres down from the mosque, resident Ahmed Khanan's house had also been defaced with the same words sprayed on a fence.
The council told the ABC it was the second time the home had been vandalised.
On Thursday, graffiti removalists were called to the home after similar remarks were painted on the same fence.
Mr Khanan's family has lived at the home for more than 25 years and said while his residence had been graffitied years earlier, it had never been politically motivated.
He labelled the vandalism as "quite hateful" for the local community.
Local resident Ahmed Khanan says the community does not tolerate hate. (ABC News)
"Historically, Mount Druitt's been targeted, especially because we have quite a lot of migrant families, especially Muslim communities … but nothing like this, to be honest," Mr Khanan said.
"It's a bitter pill to swallow for the community but we're just going to have to grow from it.
"We don't obviously tolerate hate and we'll stand firm in the community to have a look at this together and we're going to grow."
It's not the first time that Mr Khanan's family home has been graffitied. (Supplied: Blacktown City Council)
Actions 'are criminal'
In a statement, the Member for Chifley Ed Husic labelled the vandalism as "disgusting", and said the actions were "not only un-Australian, they are criminal."
"Australians of all faiths should expect to worship free from fear and intimidation. They have no place in our society at any time, but especially during an election," the minister for industry and science said.
"This is a great mosque that does great work helping others in the community. They don't deserve this treatment and damage to their property."
Crews from Blacktown City Council removed the graffiti on Friday. (ABC News)
Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke also denounced the behaviour.
"Vandalism in the form of hate speech at a place of worship has no place in Australia and is condemned without reservation," Mr Burke said in a statement.
The Australian National Imams Council said staff and students saw the graffiti when they arrived at the Australian Islamic College of Sydney, next door to the mosque.
In a statement, it described the vandalism as a "hateful and cowardly Islamophobic" attack, designed to "intimidate and provoke fear".
"This disgraceful act of hate is yet another disturbing reminder of the rising hostility faced by Australian Muslims, including children and families, in spaces that should be safe, welcoming, and free from intimidation.
"This is not merely vandalism — it is a hate crime. It reflects a dangerous trend of emboldened Islamophobia and racism that threatens the social cohesion and shared values of our multicultural nation."
The peak body has called on both law enforcement and politicians to increase security measures around Islamic schools and places of worship.
NSW Police said it was "important that the community and police continue to work together to make NSW a safer place for everyone".
"The NSW Police Force takes hate crimes seriously and encourages anyone who is the victim of a hate crime or witnesses a hate crime to report the matter to police."
The graffiti has since been removed.