Racially motivated stunts have no place in Camden - that's the message from police and political leaders this week.
The message came after two pig heads and an Australian flag were found on stakes at the site of the proposed Islamic school on Cawdor Road, Camden, last Wednesday.
"We support the people's right to protest
- however, this type of protest is abhorrent, disgusting and does nothing to assist the argument," crime manager Detective Inspector Paul Albury said.
Passing motorists spotted the two pig
heads about 6am. Shortly afterwards, police removed the heads, the flag and a cross, which was left on the site several weeks ago.
That afternoon, police interviewed a 47-year-old man, but he was released without charge. They also spoke to abattoir operators and butchers in the region and have investigated reports of a person using the
CB radio band to claim responsibility for the stunt and to spread anti-Islamic messages.
Detective Inspector Albury appealed to protesters to "maintain a level head and think of the wider ramifications when contemplating this type of behaviour".
"Racially motivated protests and propaganda have a much wider effect
on the general community and can lead to people coming to the area looking for trouble and innocent people being hurt," he said.
Jeremy Bingham, spokesman for the Quranic Society, which wants to build the school, said the society was saddened by the pig heads stunt.
"The society doesn't believe it is representative of any group of people," he said. "It is one-off thing and it is unfortunate but it makes no difference to anything."
Camden Mayor Chris Patterson condemned the stunt.
"This does not reflect the Camden community," he said. "This is one or two individuals that may not even be from the community that have clearly taken action that has no benefit to the process or the community whatsoever.
"There is a [decision-making] process that must be adhered to. I would encourage the community: please let's keep to the process."
Premier Morris Iemma described the stunt as "bizarre and disgraceful".
Anyone with information should contact Camden police on 46550599 or Crime Stoppers on 1800333000.