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Two men charged after allegedly pointing fake gun at Sydney synagogue

Published July 5, 2026 at 3:40 PM UTC

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Two men, aged 22 and 25, have been charged after allegedly pointing a fake pistol at a synagogue in Sydney's Double Bay. The incident occurred on Saturday, July 4, 2026, when police were called to Chabad Double Bay following reports that occupants of a car had pointed a firearm in the direction of the building. Officers stopped a Toyota SUV at the corner of Bayswater and Darlinghurst roads in Kings Cross, where they discovered an imitation pistol in the vehicle. The two men, Neils Baholet and Merouan Meye, were arrested and taken to Kings Cross Police Station before being transferred to Surry Hills Police Station. Mr. Baholet was charged with using an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence, possessing an unauthorised pistol, and stalking offences, with a court appearance scheduled for July 22. Mr. Meye was charged with possessing an unauthorised pistol, with his next court appearance set for July 13. The co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Peter Wertheim, expressed shock over the incident but noted it was not surprising given the recent spate of threats against the Jewish community. He praised the swift response of law enforcement, including the Jewish security group CSG and NSW Police, who worked closely with officers from Operation Shelter to arrest the pair. The arrests come amid the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, which is investigating the circumstances surrounding the Bondi terror attack and the prevalence of antisemitism in Australia.