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PM and premier say Dural caravan with explosives was ‘terrorism’ as police confirm no detonator found Investigation into Dural caravan with explosives ‘compromised’ by media leak, NSW police say
(about 1 hour later)
Caravan discovered on Sydney’s outskirts had antisemitic material, investigators say, with registered owner in custody on unrelated chargesCaravan discovered on Sydney’s outskirts had antisemitic material, investigators say, with registered owner in custody on unrelated charges
A caravan being found on Sydney’s outskirts allegedly containing explosives and antisemitic material was an act of terrorism, the prime minister and New South Wales premier have said. The New South Wales police commissioner says an investigation into a caravan found in Sydney allegedly containing explosives and a list of Jewish targets was compromised by leaks to a Sydney media outlet.
NSW police have not officially declared the incident an act of terrorism, but Anthony Albanese, when asked if he classified it as terrorism, stated: “I certainly do. I agree with [the premier] Chris Minns. It’s clearly designed to harm people but it’s also designed to create fear in the community. And that is the very definition.” Authorities have said the explosives found in the caravan at Dural had the potential to cause a “mass casualty event”.
Minns said the incident was “a potential terrorist event”. The premier said on Thursday the caravan – which was discovered in Dural on 19 January – and its owner were “in police custody”. Details were first released on Wednesday evening. That was 10 days after authorities were notified about the caravan on 19 January by a Dural local who had noticed it parked next to a road in early December.
The police commissioner, Karen Webb, said the caravan’s owner was in custody “on unrelated matters” when the caravan was discovered. Those matters were understood to be weapons and drug-related. The local had moved it to his property because he believed it was a road hazard, the police deputy commissioner, David Hudson, told 2GB radio on Thursday. But the man didn’t open the padlocked caravan until almost six weeks later.
Authorities had been conducting a covert investigation but were forced to go public when details were leaked to News Corp Australia.
The police commissioner, Karen Webb, on Thursday defended the decision not to alert the community earlier. She said the source of the leak was being investigated and noted the joint terrorism investigation included federal police and state agencies.
“The fact that this information is now in the public domain has compromised our investigation and it’s been detrimental to some of the strategies we may have used,” Webb told reporters.
“There is so much in the public domain but to talk further about this to any great extent … I don’t want to compromise that investigation any further.”
Webb said the caravan’s owner was in custody “on unrelated matters” when the caravan was discovered. Those matters were understood to be weapons and drug-related.
Webb added “there was no detonator” in the caravan.Webb added “there was no detonator” in the caravan.
The commissioner said that people could be charged with terrorism-related offences without NSW police having to make a terrorism “declaration”. The caravan and its contents were an act of terrorism, the prime minister and NSW premier said on Thursday.
NSW police have not officially declared the incident an act of terrorism, but Anthony Albanese, when asked if he classified it as terrorism, stated: “I certainly do. I agree with [the premier] Chris Minns. It’s clearly designed to harm people but it’s also designed to create fear in the community. And that is the very definition.”
Minns said the incident was “a potential terrorist event”. Webb said that people could be charged with terrorism-related offences without NSW police having to make a terrorism “declaration”.
Separately, there were more antisemitic graffiti attacks across Sydney’s eastern suburbs overnight.Separately, there were more antisemitic graffiti attacks across Sydney’s eastern suburbs overnight.
Mount Sinai college – a Jewish primary school in Maroubra next to a synagogue and a few hundred metres from a childcare centre that suffered an arson attack last week – and a nearby home were vandalised with “fucking Jews” graffiti and slurs that included calling Jewish people “dogs” and the “real terrorists”.Mount Sinai college – a Jewish primary school in Maroubra next to a synagogue and a few hundred metres from a childcare centre that suffered an arson attack last week – and a nearby home were vandalised with “fucking Jews” graffiti and slurs that included calling Jewish people “dogs” and the “real terrorists”.
Antisemitic graffiti was also discovered on a residential street in Eastlakes and a car park in Eastgardens. Police foiled a further incident in the eastern suburbs, responding to the incident “on the spot”, they said.Antisemitic graffiti was also discovered on a residential street in Eastlakes and a car park in Eastgardens. Police foiled a further incident in the eastern suburbs, responding to the incident “on the spot”, they said.
Authorities said the caravan and explosives had the potential to cause a “mass casualty event”.
Details were first released on Wednesday evening. That was 10 days after authorities were notified about the caravan on 19 January by a Dural local who had noticed it parked next to a road in early December. He’d moved it to his property because he believed it was a road hazard, Hudson said.
Authorities had been conducting a covert investigation but were forced to go public when details were leaked to News Corp Australia who ran a story.
Webb on Thursday defended the decision not to alert the community earlier. She said the source of the leak was being investigated and noted the joint investigation included federal police and state agencies.
“The fact that this information is now in the public domain has compromised our investigation and it’s been detrimental to some of the strategies we may have used,” Webb said.
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“There is so much in the public domain but to talk further about this to any great extent … I don’t want to compromise that investigation any further.” The deputy commissioner on Thursday reiterated that the threat posed by the explosives had been “mitigated”. Hudson said the Powergel found was almost exclusively used in the mining industry.
The deputy commissioner, David Hudson, on Thursday reiterated that the threat had been “mitigated”. He said the Powergel explosives found were almost exclusively used in the mining industry. Hudson said the caravan allegedly contained written notes “with Jewish entities nominated on them”. There was also allegedly an antisemitic note found.
Hudson said the caravan allegedly contained written notes “with Jewish entities nominated on them”. Asked about speculation it was potentially a “set-up” given the caravan with the explosives and notes had been left on a public road, the deputy commissioner told 2GB radio: “That’s a consideration that we are looking at as well.” Hudson said it was “not unusual” for criminal elements to tip off police but the caravan “may have been recovered by the resident of Dural prior to that being able to occur”.
“Hopefully there was no threat,” he said. “But we can’t confirm that so we are treating it at its highest and investigating it to its fullest.”
Last week, the Australian federal police said “foreign actors” could be behind some of the antisemitic attacks in Sydney with people potentially being paid to commit crimes.Last week, the Australian federal police said “foreign actors” could be behind some of the antisemitic attacks in Sydney with people potentially being paid to commit crimes.
Hudson on Thursday said police were investigating if “some of them are being orchestrated by others – not the individuals”.Hudson on Thursday said police were investigating if “some of them are being orchestrated by others – not the individuals”.
“We haven’t identified any of the individuals, of the 10 we’ve charged, with any specific ideology that would cause them to commit the acts that they have [allegedly] committed,” the assistant commissioner said.“We haven’t identified any of the individuals, of the 10 we’ve charged, with any specific ideology that would cause them to commit the acts that they have [allegedly] committed,” the assistant commissioner said.
“That indicates to us that they are being orchestrated in some manner. We have identified links between certain jobs, which gives us some indication there is a level of coordination above those [allegedly] perpetrating the offences.”“That indicates to us that they are being orchestrated in some manner. We have identified links between certain jobs, which gives us some indication there is a level of coordination above those [allegedly] perpetrating the offences.”
Hudson told ABC radio on Thursday “at this stage we believe that [alleged coordination] is domestic” rather than international.Hudson told ABC radio on Thursday “at this stage we believe that [alleged coordination] is domestic” rather than international.