An explosives-laden caravan found in Sydney was a fake anti-Semitic terror plot concocted by criminals and never an actual threat, police have confirmed.
The discovery of the caravan in Dural, which also contained Jewish addresses and a note saying “fuck the Jews” but no detonator, was described by NSW Premier Chris Minns as “terrorism” and a “potential mass casualty event” as soon as the investigation was made public in late January.
Weeks later Mr Minns brought in controversial new hate speech laws, calling them a “strong response to anti-Semitism”, while the federal government also cited a spate of alleged anti-Semitic attacks for pushing through its own hate crimes bill, which passed with bipartisan support.
But on Monday the Australian Federal Police revealed that “almost immediately, experienced investigators within the JCTT [NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team] believed that the caravan was part of a fabricated terrorism plot – essentially a criminal con job”.
🚨Australian Federal Police confirm the caravan tied to a suspected ‘antisemitic terror attack’ was a false flag, with “organised crime gangs using antisemitism to provoke a specific law enforcement reaction.”
Regardless, these staged attacks have already had a chilling effect… pic.twitter.com/33fU5uL2P7
— Australians vs. The Agenda (@ausvstheagenda) March 10, 2025
AFP Deputy Commissioner National Security Krissy Barrett said that the public was not informed until today because the JCTT was investigating a continual series of tip-offs, now also determined to be fake, about other terror plots linked to the caravan.
“I can reveal that the caravan was never going to cause a mass casualty event but instead was concocted by criminals who wanted to cause fear for personal benefit,” she said.
“We are now confident that all these tip-offs were fabricated, and the caravan plot was an elaborate scheme contrived by organised criminals, domestically and from offshore.
“We believe the person pulling the strings wanted changes to their criminal status but maintained a distance from their scheme and hired alleged local criminals to carry out parts of their plan.”
She said an operational strategy was underway to take down the mastermind behind the fake terror plot, in conjunction with overseas law enforcement agencies.
“Those creating fake terror threats, including using anti-Semitism to elicit a desired response from law enforcement or the courts, face being charged for creating fake plots – and unfortunately for them, they will face the full experience, capability and dogged determination of terrorism investigators,” she said.
NSW Police today:
‘Almost immediately experienced investigators believed the caravan was part of a fabricated plot, a criminal con-job.’
Pity it took weeks for police to publicise what they ‘immediately’ knew.
Anti free speech laws passed in shadow of this ‘criminal con job.’ pic.twitter.com/9VEOLA6sR1
— John Ruddick MLC (@JohnRuddick2) March 10, 2025
Mr Minns said in a joint statement with Police Minister Yasmin Catley on Monday that the fabricated plot had hurt the Jewish community.
“There is no mistake that these acts have wrought fear and anxiety in our Jewish community and we will not tolerate this, not now, not ever,” he said.
Also on Monday NSW Police carried out a series of raids and made 14 arrests following investigations into separate alleged anti-Semitic incidents in Sydney.
A man, 33, was arrested in Wentworthville over an alleged graffiti spree on February 1, and a 40-year-old man was arrested in Penshurst over three different alleged graffiti incidents.
Two other men, aged 41 and 34, were arrested at Burwood Police Station after being transferred from a correctional facility and charged over an alleged arson attack in Bondi in October.
Free speech advocates responded to the caravan revelations by saying the new laws should now be scrapped.
NSW Libertarian MP John Ruddick quoted the AFP on X and said in response on X: “Pity it took weeks for police to publicise what they ‘immediately’ knew.
“Anti free speech laws passed in shadow of this ‘criminal con job’.”
So it’s now been confirmed that the caravan full of explosives, a supposed “terror event” was nothing but a fabricated event.
Yet this event was cited as justification for suppressing free speech with the new “Hate Speech” laws.
So perhaps Mr Albanese and Mr Dutton will now… pic.twitter.com/5QU0eI6nzh
— Craig Kelly (@craigkellyXXX) March 10, 2025
Former Liberal MP and lead Libertarian senate candidate for NSW Craig Kelly also weighed in on social media.
“So it’s now been confirmed that the caravan full of explosives, a supposed ‘terror event’ was nothing but a fabricated event. Yet this event was cited as justification for suppressing free speech with the new ‘Hate Speech’ laws,” he wrote.
“So perhaps Mr Albanese and Mr Dutton will now repeal the Hate Speech laws given they were passed based upon an event which has now been confirmed was fabricated?”
Header image: A man is arrested on Monday over an alleged anti-Semitic graffiti attack (NSW Police).
