‘Absolutely disgusting’: Hunt for men who poured mystery substance on Sydney war memorial

1 week ago 3

Two men have been captured in CCTV footage spraying an unknown substance on Sydney’s Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park.

The vision shows two men, both caucasian and aged in their 50s or 60s, walking in and around the monument for about 20 minutes just after midday on Thursday.

The two men spent about 20 minutes at the memorial on Thursday.

The pair were carrying small bottles of an unknown oil-based substance, one inside a small bag and the other in a red shopping bag trolley.

They then spread the mystery liquid onto various surfaces of the memorial, both inside the hall and on the building’s exterior, on the floor, walls and steps.

Police confirmed stains on the granite of the heritage-listed 1930s landmark are still visible, with the clean-up expected to cost between $5000 and $20,000.

The purpose or motive behind the malicious damage remains a mystery.

A manhunt is under way as police “desperately” search for the pair, releasing the vision in the hopes someone will come forward to identify them.

The men sprayed the substance on various surface inside and outside the monument.

“It’s absolutely disgusting, and that’s why we’re absolutely desperate for someone to identify these people,” Chief Inspector Gary Coffey said at a press conference on Friday.

“The footage is excellent quality. Someone will know them.”

The Anzac Memorial, in Hyde Park South near Liverpool Street, was built between 1932 and 1934 to commemorate World War I.

“The War Memorial is a sacred site for our community,” Coffey said.

“It represents, probably... at that time in our nation’s history, the most significant sacrifice of life during World War I, which every family would have been touched by.”

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