Between 6.30pm on February 1 and 7.30am on February 2, police allege the accused men spraypainted antisemitic symbols on property in the Perth suburbs of Nedlands, Dianella and Dalkeith.

Police arrested and charged two men, both aged 27, today after searching homes in Dianella and Beechboro.

Both men were charged with multiple counts of criminal damage in circumstances of racial aggravation.

The men were expected to front Perth Magistrates Court today.

A WA Police spokesperson said the force would not tolerate “vile acts of hatred and racism to go unchecked”.

“We have zero tolerance for hate in our community and we will use every measure at the agency’s disposal to protect our community and bring perpetrators to justice,” the spokesperson said.

“In Western Australia, we said it would not be tolerated if you considered any behavior of that nature,” Papalia told the media today.

“If you participated, be it walking through the streets in mobs inciting violence against fellow Western Australians, or scurrying around in the dark like rats, you would be hunted down, and you would be brought to justice, and that is what has happened here.”

WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said a taskforce quickly made arrests within hours of the graffiti appearing in Perth.

He said members of the community came forward with information and footage which led to the arrests.

“The most important part of this investigation for us was that our community stood up with everyone, stood up with the entire community, and stood up with those victims of this hate,” he said.

“They helped us solve the crime. Our community helped us solve the crime. They came forward with their CCTV observations throughout the night in WA, we are very fortunate to have the capabilities.”

The investigation into the graffiti remains ongoing.

Dedicated patrols have been targeting areas frequented by members of Perth’s Jewish community since December.