Explosives-Filled Caravan Possibly Intended For Antisemitic Attack

A caravan loaded with explosives found at a property in greater Sydney earlier this month is being investigated as part of a potential antisemitic attack.

NSW Police were alerted to the caravan, located in Dural, on January 19, where emulsion-based explosives known as Powergel were discovered. Police allege they also found a list of location targets used by the Jewish community, indicating that the explosives could have been used in “some form of antisemitic attack”.

No detonator was found in the vehicle.

Deputy police commissioner David Hudson estimated the potential blast zone could have spanned 40 meters in diameter.

Hudson assured the public that the the owner registered to the vehicle was in custody when the vehicle was found “based on offences being investigated under Strike Force Pearl”, which Hudson described as “peripheral charges to these investigations”.

“But also search warrants were conducted,” he said. “[We will allege] There was evidence found of other offences during the execution of those search warrants. He has been charged with those offences.”

Hudson told the media on Wednesday that police have made other arrests “on the periphery” of the incident, and are investigating whether the van could be linked to others charged for their alleged involvement in previous antisemitic attacks.

“We believe there is some connection between some of the targets we’ve charged under Strike Force Pearl, and this particular investigation,” he said.

Albanese and Minns label incident “terrorism”

“This is the discovery of a potential mass casualty event,” said Premier Chris Minns on Wednesday afternoon.

“There’s only one way of calling it out, and that is terrorism. That’s what we’re very worried about. This would strike terror into the community, particularly the Jewish community, and it must be met with the full resources of the government.”

Speaking to ABC Radio Sydney on Thursday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he agreed with Minns’ labelling of the event as “terrorism”.

“It’s clearly designed to harm people, but it’s also designed to create fear in the community. And that is the very definition.”

Albanese was quick to clarify that NSW police had not yet classified the incident as an act of terrorism, but is being investigated by the Joint Counter Terrorism Team.

The NSW police, the Australian federal police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the New South Wales Crime Commission have all been mobilised in the investigation.

The investigation was being conducted outside of the public’s knowledge since the van’s discovery, but a media leak meant the police were forced to go public.

“The fact this information is now in the public domain has compromised our investigation and has been detrimental to some of the strategies we may have used,” said Police Commissioner Karen Webb.

Jewish community “terrified” as attacks increase

The executive officer at the Jewish Council of Australia, Sarah Schwartz told ABC News Breakfast that the discovery was “terrifying”.

“I think it should be clear to everyone now that we’re seeing a real escalation in these incidents,” she says.

“Myself, so many other Jewish people I’m speaking to, are so scared in this moment.

“Everyone has a right to practice their religion in safety without fear.”

The news comes as three more incidents of antisemitic graffiti were uncovered overnight. Jewish primary school, Mount Sinai college, and a nearby home in Maroubra, were both vandalised with graffiti calling Jewish people “dogs” and the “real terrorists”.

Graffiti was also discovered on a residential street in Eastlakes, and a car park in Eastgardens.

Premier Minns has promised the Jewish community that “the full force of the law and a massive, massive and growing police response” will be utilised.

“There’s bad actors in our community, badly motivated, bad ideologies, bad morals, bad ethics, bad people. They’re intent on doing damage and harm to others in our community, people they’ve never met before, purely on the basis of their religion,” he said.

“It’s hateful. It’s an ideology that we need to stamp out.”