Sydney caravan a ‘fake terrorism plot' and antisemitic attacks a scheme to divert police resources, authorities allege
Federal police say a caravan found in Sydney earlier this year was 'never going to cause a mass casualty event' and was a 'fake terrorism plot'.
The Australian federal police deputy commissioner Krissy Barrett said on Monday investigators now believed the caravan incident was concocted by criminals who wanted to cause fear for personal benefit.
'We are now confident these tip-offs were fabricated and the caravan plot was an elaborate scheme contrived by organised criminals domestically and from offshore,' Barrett said.
'This twisted self-serving criminality has terrorised Australians. What organised crime has [allegedly] done to the Jewish community is reprehensible and it won't go without consequences.'
The NSW police deputy commissioner David Hudson said Strike Force Pearl officers conducted 11 search warrants on Monday and arrested a further 14 people as part of their investigations into antisemitic attacks across Sydney. None of those arrested were directly linked to the 'caravan job', he said.
The deputy commissioner said 'organised crime elements' were behind the attacks to 'further their own causes'. None of those arrested had displayed any antisemitic ideology, Hudson alleged.
The same person or persons was pulling the strings for both the antisemitic attacks and the caravan incident to divert police resources so they could continue their criminal activity more easily, Huson alleged.
A couple allegedly named on a police warrant as part of the investigation into the caravan was previously charged in relation to a separate alleged arson and graffiti attack in Sydney's east.
NSW police in mid-February charged Scott Marshall, 36, over an incident in Woollahra on 11 December last year when an allegedly stolen car was set alight and anti-Israel graffiti was painted on cars, buildings and a footpath.
Marshall's partner, Tammie Farrugia, 34, was charged in mid-January in relation to the Woollahra incident. She was accused of participating in a criminal group and damaging property.
Marshall was arrested in Parklea prison last month – where he was being held on remand on unrelated charges – and charged with allegedly participating in a criminal group to contribute to criminal activity; destroying or damaging property as an accessory before the fact; and taking and driving a vehicle without the consent of the owner.
Sign up to Morning Mail
Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters
after newsletter promotion
NSW police allege Marshall and Farrugia were 'involved in preparing' the car and jerry cans ahead of the Woollahra attack.
The head of Strike Force Pearl told reporters in mid-February that the alleged 'principal offenders' behind the 11 December incident had not been arrested.
Neither Faruggia nor Marshall have been charged in relation to the caravan and Guardian Australia does not suggest any wrongdoing on their part.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
37 minutes ago
- The Independent
Israel reveals tunnel under Gaza hospital ‘where body of Hamas chief was found'
Israel has released footage of an underground tunnel beneath a hospital in Gaza where it claims it found the body of Mohammed Sinwar, the military leader of Hamas. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) shared a clip of the bunker online, stating that it was further proof that Hamas 'hides behind their civilians and purposely embed themselves in civilian areas, such as hospitals'. Footage shows the sprawling infrastructure which consists of a long corridor and several rooms where the IDF claims to have found Sinwar's body on Sunday (8 June). Israel said Sinwar was killed in a targeted air strike on 13 May, which the Hamas-run civil defence agency said killed 28 people and injured dozens. Hamas has not confirmed his death.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Greta Thunberg Gaza flotilla reaches port after being seized by Israel
The boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists seeking to bring symbolic aid to Gaza has arrived at an Israeli port, after Israel intercepted the flotilla. Adalah, a legal rights group representing the activists, said at 10pm local time they had received confirmation that the group were being held at Ashdod port and were undergoing processing before being handed over to Israeli immigration authorities. Demanding access to the passengers of the British-flagged yacht Madleen – which had sought to break the naval blockade on Gaza – Adalah said: 'Unless they agree to leave immediately, they will be transferred to the detention facility in Ramleh. 'While authorities have indicated that those who consent to deportation may be allowed to fly out from Tel Aviv tonight, it's unclear what conditions – such as signing documents or waiving rights – may be imposed.' Earlier, organisers of the Freedom Flotilla, said there had there been no contact with the 12 international activists for nearly 19 hours after the ship was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters at around 2am on Monday. Warning that the activists had been 'forcibly abducted' while sailing peacefully under international law, organiser Huwaida Arraf told Al Jazeera that Israel 'has no authority' to maintain its blockade on Gaza – and criticised the UK government for failing to issue a strong condemnation of the UK-flagged vessel's seizure. Downing Street on Monday afternoon urged Israel to act 'safely with restraint, in line with international humanitarian law', and described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as 'appalling and intolerable'. A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in the Strip, where more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli military campaign launched after Hamas 's attacks on 7 October 2023 killed more than 1,200 people in Israel, with 250 others taken hostage. The flotilla, which is the latest in a long line of activist attempts to break the blockade of Gaza, sought to raise international awareness of the crisis in Gaza and deliver a small amount of aid, including rice and baby formula. During one previous flotilla in May 2010, nine people were killed after Israeli commandos opened fire on activists after boarding the flagship vessel 90 miles from Gaza. Just last month, two drones hit another vessel destined for Gaza while it was off the coast of Malta. In a video filmed before the Madleen was captured, released by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, 22-year-old activist Thunberg said: 'If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by Israeli occupational forces or forces that support Israel. 'I urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible.' However, speaking outside the Swedish parliament on Monday, foreign minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said she did not believe Ms Thunberg was in need of support from Stockholm, adding: 'A great responsibility rests on those who choose to travel contrary to the advice.' Speaking as protestors gathered in Stockholm to demand action, Ms Stenergard condemned a 'dangerous' campaign to flood her ministry with calls, adding: 'The consequence is that Swedes in need abroad have to wait in line for far too long.' But the Swedish foreign ministry said it was in contact with Israeli authorities, telling Reuters: 'Should the need for consular support arise, the Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will assess how we can best help the Swedish citizen/Greta Thunberg resolve her situation.' With Israel's defence minister Israel Katz claiming he had instructed the military to show 'antisemitic Greta and her Hamas-supporting friends' footage of the 7 October attacks upon their arrival in Ashdod, Israel's foreign ministry also sought to dismiss the flotilla as a stunt. The ministry said on social media: 'The 'Selfie Yacht' docked at Ashdod Port a short while ago. The passengers are currently undergoing medical examinations to ensure they are in good health.' 'The tiny amount of aid that was on the yacht and not consumed by the 'celebrities' will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels,' the ministry said, days after Israel's controversial new 'aid plan' descended into chaos, with reports of stampedes and guns being fired at starving crowds. In a fresh warning on Monday, the United Nations said families in Gaza are 'hanging on by a thread' with the aid reaching the Strip remaining 'critically insufficient'. As well as tightly controlling air and land deliveries into Gaza – permitting no supplies to enter for three months earlier this year – Israel has imposed a naval blockade on the Strip since Hamas took control in 2007, saying it aims to stop weapons from reaching the militant group. The UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese – who has supported the Freedom Flotilla operation – urged other boats to challenge the Gaza blockade. ' Madleen 's journey may have ended, but the mission isn't over. Every Mediterranean port must send boats with aid [and] solidarity to Gaza,' she said.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Morning Mail: staggering prison death toll revealed, LA braces for more unrest, Albanese to deliver key speech
Good morning everyone. Our top story today reveals a staggering death toll from government inaction. In a five-month investigation, scouring coronial findings from 248 deaths, Guardian Australia has found that 57 inmates in Australian jails hanged themselves in the past two decades using ligature points that were known to authorities but not removed. Plus: Anthony Albanese will map out his priorities for his second term in a key speech today, Los Angeles braces for more unrest, and we hear about a time when Monet, Cezanne et al were panned by the critics. 'Meet the moment' | Anthony Albanese will tell the National Press Club today that government and democratic institutions 'including a free media' can meet the demands of global uncertainty, despite growing attacks around the world and the shooting of an Australian reporter covering the Los Angeles unrest. 18C 'battle' | A Sydney cleric being sued in the federal court for alleged racial discrimination of Jewish people has described his case as an existential battle 'between Islam and unbelievers'. Koala cut | New South Wales environmental activists say an area that is home to endangered koalas and southern greater gliders has been left out of the Minns government's assessment for its proposed great koala national park. Tasmania tangle | After a week of drama in Tasmanian politics, the premier, Jeremy Rockliff, is expected to visit the state's governor on Tuesday to request a state election. Greensill case | The Australian financier Lex Greensill has told a court in London that senior managers at SoftBank 'felt threatened' by his relationship with Masayoshi Son, the founder of the Japanese tech investor that pumped millions into Greensill's company before its collapse. Veteran warning | As crowds gathered in Los Angeles for a fourth day of protests against immigration detentions, veterans warned the Trump administration's deployment of national guard troops to the city over the head of California's governor is a major escalation that risks the politicisation of the US military. Unions have demanded the release of a leader arrested and injured during the Ice raids in the city on Friday. You can follow developments live, and also learn more about the protests with our visual explainer. AI 'limits' | Apple researchers have found 'fundamental limitations' in cutting-edge artificial intelligence models, in a paper raising doubts about the technology industry's race to develop ever more powerful systems. Russia threat | Russia could be ready to attack westwards within five years, Nato's chief has warned, with member states expected to agree to increase military spending to 5% of GDP later this month. Ukraine claims to have damaged two fighter jets in another audacious raid deep inside Russia. Western guests including Elon Musk's father will speak at a pro-Putin conference being held in Moscow. Boat blocked | A boat with Greta Thunberg and fellow activists on board is being held in an Israeli port ahead of deportation hearings after the country's military seized the vessel when the group tried to break the blockade on Gaza. Celebrity defamation | A judge has dismissed Justin Baldoni's US$400m defamation claim against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, finding that Lively's accusations of sexual harassment against Baldoni were legally protected. Trump takes on the LA protesters and Elon Musk Washington DC bureau chief David Smith tells Nour Haydar why Donald Trump's reaction to the LA protests is a diversion from his feud with billionaire Elon Musk. Sorry your browser does not support audio - but you can download here and listen $ There's a shrine in Karen Reid's home to her son Luke. His white hard hat sits on top of a toolbox. His old vape is there, tucked inside one of his favourite sneakers. Luke died in 2022 at 27 years old on his first night on remand. He took his own life by hanging in a prison cell that authorities knew contained a dangerous ligature point, but failed to remove. As part of a new Guardian Australia investigation launched today, Karen speaks out, saying government negligence allowed her son to die. She calls on authorities to take seriously their responsibility to keep inmates safe, and to urgently remove known hanging points from prison cells, 'so that no other mother and family has to go through this pain'. We have also asked other states why they haven't removed ligature points. The National Gallery of Victoria's new show, French Impressionism, celebrates some of the greatest names in art such as Monet, Renoir, Degas, Morisot and Pissarro. But the curator of the show tells Sian Cain that when they first started one critic said the style 'makes me sick'. Sign up to Morning Mail Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Test cricket | The World Test Championship starts tomorrow with Australia taking on South Africa at Lord's. Martin Pegan examines where the match will be won and lost. AFL | Collingwood showed why they are flag favourites by edging out the Demons by one point in a tense game at the MCG. Football | After sacking Ange Postecoglou last week, Tottenham have approached Brentford over appointing Thomas Frank as their new head coach. Former federal minister Eric Abetz is a 'creditable candidate' to be Tasmania's new premier, a key backer tells the Hobart Mercury. The De Bortoli winemaking family tell the Herald Sun they are 'doing the unthinkable' and ripping out vines amid a slump in wine sales. Circular Quay will be transformed by a giant half-woman half-whale sculpture, according to Sydney Morning Herald. Business | NSW premier Chris Minns and treasurer Daniel Mookhey will speak at a NSW Economic Review event ahead of the state budget. Technology | Summit in Sydney to discuss energy and water challenges faced by the data centre sector. If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland. And finally, here are the Guardian's crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword
