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The US Consulate in Sydney has been vandalized after pro-Palestinian protestors targeted the building in response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

The incident occurred early Monday morning when a person in a dark hoodie was captured on CCTV smashing nine holes in the consulate’s glass windows with a sledgehammer, according to the New South Wales Police Department. Two inverted red triangles, symbols often associated with Palestinian resistance, were also painted on the front of the building. Authorities are seeking information or dashcam footage from anyone who might have witnessed the vandalism.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the incident, urging advocates on both sides of the conflict to engage in respectful political discourse. He said, “I would just say that people should have respectful political debate and discourse. Measures such as painting the US Consulate do nothing to advance the cause of those who have committed what is of course a crime to damage property.” Albanese also acknowledged the emotional impact of the Middle East conflict, noting that many Australians have relatives in the affected regions. “People are traumatized by what is going on in the Middle East, particularly those with relatives in either Israel or in the Palestinian Occupied Territories,” he said.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns condemned the attack, reiterating the importance of peaceful protest. “We can make our point in this country without resorting to violence or malicious behavior,” he stated.

This recent act of vandalism follows a similar incident in April when the consulate was defaced with the words “Free Gaza” and a previous attack on the US Consulate in Melbourne by pro-Palestinian activists last December.