A Sydney-based individual is in police custody after a caravan full of stolen explosives and a note with the address of a synagogue, Jewish people and antisemitic messaging was discovered in the semi-rural suburb of Dural. Police are now investigating whether the caravan, which had enough explosives to create a blast zone radius of 40 metres, was intended in “some form of antisemitic attack“.
Police were tipped off about the caravan on a property in Sydney’s north-west on January 19. It was discovered to be full of what police believe to be an emulsion-based explosive called powergel, alongside the antisemitic note.
Although the apparent owner of the caravan has been taken into custody, they have not been charged in relation to the discovery.
On Wednesday, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson confirmed that an investigation into the discovery is ongoing, with the Joint Counter-Terrorism Team taking over the investigation. However, Hudson did confirm there was “some indication that the explosives might be used in some form of antisemitic attack”.
“This is an ongoing investigation and is being taken seriously with all lines of inquiry being pursued,” Hudson said.
“That’s one of the reasons we’re talking today, for members of the public to be vigilant in relation to what they see and what they hear in relation to antisemitism in our community.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns described the incident as “abhorrent and appalling”.
“There’s only one way of calling it out and that is terrorism,” Minns said.
“I want to make it incredibly clear that anyone attempting this level of violence will be met with the full force of a massive and growing police response.
“The public can be assured that the NSW Police will not stop until these people are defeated and put behind bars.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed Minn’s statements in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) condemning the possible threat to the Jewish community.
“We condemn unequivocally this act. The full might of the AFP, ASIO and NSW Police are being utilised in this major investigation by the Joint Counter Terrorism Team,” Albanese wrote in a statement.
“Hate and extremism have no place in Australian society.”
During the press conference, both Minns and Hudson were questioned about why the public, and the Jewish community, weren’t made aware of the threat sooner.
Hudson said that police were conducting the investigation and had plans to tell the public “very soon”.
“There’s a very good reason that police don’t detail methods and tactics and that’s so that criminals don’t understand what police are getting up to in their investigations,” Minns said.
“Just because it wasn’t being conducted on the front pages of newspapers does not mean this was not an urgent in fact the number one priority of NSW Police.”
Australia’s Jewish community has been targeted by a troubling rise in antisemitic attacks over recent months. In December, Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue was set alight in an arson attack. In January alone, antisemitic graffiti involving Nazi symbols and references have been painted at a synagogue in southern Sydney and a house in the Inner West.
Even a childcare centre has been set ablaze and covered with antisemitic slurs in Sydney’s south-east.
While thankfully no one has been hurt, the incidents have been terrifying for the Jewish community.
“No matter your opinion on this issue, it is never acceptable to target Jews or to blame Jewish people generally for the actions of the Israeli state,” Max Kaiser, the executive officer of the Jewish Council of Australia said in a statement.
“The media and politicians need to take this incident as a wake-up call to act more responsibly in distinguishing between Jews in Australia and the government of Israel. The Jewish community is not a monolith and we refuse to be used as political footballs.”
Police have confirmed that there is no ongoing threat from the discovery of the caravan.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
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