Police investigating a caravan full of explosives discovered on a NSW property in January have confirmed it was part of a "fake terror plot" orchestrated by organised criminals.
The discovery of the caravan full of explosives triggered an extensive police response, with fears of the potential for a mass casualty event targeting the Jewish community.
The caravan, which was discovered on a road in Dural, a semi-rural suburb in north-west Sydney, contained powergel explosives — commonly used in the mining industry — that could have created a 40m wide blast, and a note containing the addresses of Jewish people and institutions.
The note included the words, "f--- the Jews".
Police treated the incident as a credible terror threat and assigned more than 100 counter-terrorism detectives to investigate those behind the plot.
However, NSW Police deputy commissioner David Hudson and AFP deputy commissioner Krissy Barrett told reporters on Monday the caravan was part of a "fake terror plot" orchestrated by organised criminals and the tip-offs that led to the caravan's discovery were fabricated.
"Put simply, the plan was the following: organise someone to buy a caravan, place it with explosives and written material of antisemitic nature, leave it in a specific location and then once that happened, inform law enforcement about impending terror attacks against Jewish Australians," Barrett said.
The media briefing was the first time the AFP has publicly provided details about Operation Kissinger, which was investigating those responsible for the caravan.
The 'fake terror plot'
In a statement, Barrett said any perceived terror threat was mitigated within hours of the caravan's discovery in January.
She said investigators within the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team believed the caravan was part of a fabricated plot "almost immediately" due to how easily the caravan was found, how visible the explosives were and the fact that there was no detonator.
The plot remained a terrorism investigation due to an "abundance of caution", she said.
Barrett said she believes the person who orchestrated the plot had done so to use knowledge of the caravan as a bargaining chip to alter their criminal status, but they "maintained a distance from their scheme and hired alleged local criminals to carry out parts of their plan".
She refused to disclose any further details about the alleged masterminds behind the plot but said they are both onshore and offshore.
A 'chilling' effect on the Jewish community
Despite the fraudulent plot, Barrett said the discovery of the explosives has had a "chilling" effect on Australia's Jewish community.
"This twisted, self-serving criminality has terrorised Jewish Australians," she said.
"What organised crime has done to the Jewish community is reprehensible, and it won't go without consequence. There was also unwarranted suspicion directed at other communities — and that is also reprehensible," Barrett said.
Alex Ryvchin, the co-Chief Executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, told SBS News that the announcement that the plot had been fabricated seemed to "raise more questions than it answers".
“We’ve seen a spate of antisemitic firebombings across our major cities, targeting synagogues and private homes… and now hearing organised crime is involved… it adds an additional dose of complexity and uncertainty to the story."
Arrests made following separate investigations
Police have arrested and charged 14 people following investigations into antisemitic incidents across Sydney's east. The arrests were unrelated to the Dural caravan.
In a statement on Tuesday, NSW Police said those arrested have been charged with 65 offences following the execution of 11 search warrants and three firearm prohibition orders.
The charges include intentional damage of property, participating in a criminal group and drug charges.
The arrests were made by investigators from Strike Force Pearl, which was established in December to investigate antisemitic attacks and graffiti across Sydney.
