Latest news with #Akca
Perth Now
05-05-2025
- Perth Now
Man reveals role in ‘terror' plot
The man accused of orchestrating the Dural caravan terror hoax has denied any links to a spate of anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney, but has admitted he intercepted the explosives and was attempting to use the plot to negotiate with the Australian Federal Police. Sayit Ehan Akca, who fled Australia in 2023 after being charged with conspiring to import a commercial quantity of illicit drugs, spoke exclusively with Four Corners about the allegations he was the 'mastermind' behind the fake Sydney caravan terror plot. On the show on Monday, he confirmed he played a role in sourcing the explosives to offer the Australian Federal Police, so that he could negotiate re-entering the country and receiving bail upon return to Australia. Akca said that he told the AFP: 'Look, I've got information on a movement of explosives. I can seize it and I can hand it over'. According to Akca, the response from the AFP was: 'That's good. That'll get you home'. Akca coordinated with local contacts for information on explosives movements in Sydney, and offered a trade deal to the AFP in December last year. 'I sort of just asked a few people that I knew might have knowledge,' he said He quite cryptically claimed he 'didn't organise the caravan', he 'just organised the seizure of it', but did admit he decided where to leave it. 'I actually picked Dural and I just told the driver that I had intercepted to do the seizure off to just put it in a safe spot that we selected off that map,' he said. Akca was adamant that the explosives in the caravan were never intended to explode. 'My clear instruction was 'make sure this is not gonna explode',' he said. However, he did acknowledge the risk in leaving the highly dangerous material in a public area. 'If this ends up in the wrong hands or if a kid opens that door or if cops don't react to it fast enough … There's so many ways this could go wrong,' he said, describing his anxieties at the time. 'What if the wrong agency found it and it had the detonators ready to go?' He also denied he was knew about the note found inside the caravan that listed Jewish buildings and locations. Derriwong Road in Dural near where the caravan 'seized' by Sayit Akca was found. NewsWire / Damian Shaw Credit: News Corp Australia 'Yeah, if I knew that was there, I would have taken it out,' he said. Akca said that he told the AFP where the explosives were, but was worried when the caravan was rapidly seized that his plan had been thwarted. 'I was looking for more explosives …'Cause I thought I may as well start looking for another set,' he said. Akca also repeatedly denied any links to a wave of anti-Semitic attacks that have plagued Sydney. Police minister Yasmin Catley answers questions about the Dural caravan terrorism case during NSW parliament question time. NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers Credit: News Corp Australia When asked by Four Corners reporter Mahmood Fazal if he had any involvement in the arson attack on the Only About Children centre on Storey Street in Maroubra, which was also spray painted with anti-Semitic graffiti, he said he thought it was 'disturbing' and denied any connection. 'There's kids that go there. Like … what do their parents tell them? What do they grow up thinking? That someone just blew up their school?,' he asked. Members of the local Jewish community in Maroubra arrive with their children at the childcare centre which was firebombed in an anti-semitic attack. NewsWire/ Julian Andrews Credit: News Corp Australia 'I'm trying to go back to see my son. Does it make sense to attack a school or a childcare, and traumatise 100 kids?' He said the claims he was behind the anti-Semitic attacks offended him, because 'anyone that really knows me – they'd know that I would never, ever take bread off someone's table'. 'Yeah, I got pretty offended by a couple of them because I know that's just not my core values,' he said. 'I go to a mosque, and God is God.'
News.com.au
05-05-2025
- News.com.au
The man behind the Sydney terror caravan hoax admits his role in the incident
The man accused of orchestrating the Dural caravan terror hoax has denied any links to a spate of anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney, but has admitted he intercepted the explosives and was attempting to use the plot to negotiate with the Australian Federal Police. Sayit Ehan Akca, who fled Australia in 2023 after being charged with conspiring to import a commercial quantity of illicit drugs, spoke exclusively with Four Corners about the allegations he was the 'mastermind' behind the fake Sydney caravan terror plot. On the show on Monday, he confirmed he played a role in sourcing the explosives to offer the Australian Federal Police, so that he could negotiate re-entering the country and receiving bail upon return to Australia. Akca said that he told the AFP: 'Look, I've got information on a movement of explosives. I can seize it and I can hand it over'. According to Akca, the response from the AFP was: 'That's good. That'll get you home'. Akca coordinated with local contacts for information on explosives movements in Sydney, and offered a trade deal to the AFP in December last year. 'I sort of just asked a few people that I knew might have knowledge,' he said He quite cryptically claimed he 'didn't organise the caravan', he 'just organised the seizure of it', but did admit he decided where to leave it. 'I actually picked Dural and I just told the driver that I had intercepted to do the seizure off to just put it in a safe spot that we selected off that map,' he said. Akca was adamant that the explosives in the caravan were never intended to explode. 'My clear instruction was 'make sure this is not gonna explode',' he said. However, he did acknowledge the risk in leaving the highly dangerous material in a public area. 'If this ends up in the wrong hands or if a kid opens that door or if cops don't react to it fast enough … There's so many ways this could go wrong,' he said, describing his anxieties at the time. 'What if the wrong agency found it and it had the detonators ready to go?' He also denied he was knew about the note found inside the caravan that listed Jewish buildings and locations. 'Yeah, if I knew that was there, I would have taken it out,' he said. Akca said that he told the AFP where the explosives were, but was worried when the caravan was rapidly seized that his plan had been thwarted. 'I was looking for more explosives …'Cause I thought I may as well start looking for another set,' he said. Akca also repeatedly denied any links to a wave of anti-Semitic attacks that have plagued Sydney. When asked by Four Corners reporter Mahmood Fazal if he had any involvement in the arson attack on the Only About Children centre on Storey Street in Maroubra, which was also spray painted with anti-Semitic graffiti, he said he thought it was 'disturbing' and denied any connection. 'There's kids that go there. Like … what do their parents tell them? What do they grow up thinking? That someone just blew up their school?,' he asked. 'I'm trying to go back to see my son. Does it make sense to attack a school or a childcare, and traumatise 100 kids?' He said the claims he was behind the anti-Semitic attacks offended him, because 'anyone that really knows me – they'd know that I would never, ever take bread off someone's table'. 'Yeah, I got pretty offended by a couple of them because I know that's just not my core values,' he said. 'I go to a mosque, and God is God.'
The Guardian
05-05-2025
- The Guardian
Alleged mastermind behind Sydney's ‘fake terrorism plot' denies wider responsibility but admits ‘I picked Dural'
The man alleged to have masterminded a spate of antisemitic attacks in Sydney and a 'fake terrorism' caravan plot has denied responsibility – but admits he was involved in having the caravan moved. In January, police discovered a caravan packed with explosives in the outer Sydney suburb of Dural, triggering a massive multi-agency investigation. Former gym owner and alleged drug dealer Sayit Akca has told Four Corners he was able to divert the caravan – which he says was being moved between an illicit buyer and seller – and informed the Australian federal police (AFP) about the explosives in an attempt to gain more lenient treatment in the courts. Akca was charged in 2022 with conspiring to import a commercial quantity of illicit drugs and recklessly engaging with the proceeds of crime. He did not attend a scheduled court appearance at Sydney's Downing Centre local court on 28 September 2023. He is now in Turkey, according to the ABC. Court documents seen by Guardian Australia allege Akca was smuggled out of Australia to Thailand via Thursday Island in September 2023. Akca told ABC's Four Corners he fled Australia after he was charged partly because he feared he was a possible target of other criminals. But, because he missed his son in Australia, he had approached authorities to organise a 'trade-in' – hoping it would assist his return. He said he did not buy the explosives and but directed the driver of the caravan to leave it in a 'safe spot' and remove the detonators. He denied any knowledge of a note listing Jewish community targets that New South Wales police alleged was found inside the caravan. 'I actually picked Dural and I just told the driver … to just put it in a safe spot,' Akca said, according to the ABC. In the months leading to the discovery of the caravan – which the NSW premier, Chris Minns, initially said was capable of being a 'mass casualty event' – Sydney and its large Jewish community were rocked by a spate of firebombing and graffiti attacks, including on a child care centre and synagogues. In March, police said the caravan was part of a 'fake terrorism plot' allegedly orchestrated by organised criminals for personal gain. Police alleged the 'con job' was fabricated by organised crime figures for personal benefit and that the undisclosed figures were based in Australia and offshore. The AFP deputy commissioner Krissy Barrett alleged in March that: '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.' Barrett said the incidents were designed to gain the police's attention and divert resources with alleged offenders 'accepting these tasks for money'. 'Put simply, the plan was the following: organise for 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 an impending terror attack against Jewish Australians.' The plot was 'never going to cause a mass casualty event', police said. Akca told the ABC this week that he 'removed something off the street and gave it to [the AFP]. And then there's a bunch of other things they're alleging was me. But I deny it. Doesn't match my timeline'. 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 After supplying the AFP with further information about explosives as part of his bid for leniency, Akca gave up on the hope of returning to Australia, he told Four Corners. In April, it emerged that a senior NSW police officer signed a non-disclosure agreement when told by the AFP in early February that the motivation of the 'mastermind' behind Sydney's fake terrorism caravan plot was to influence prosecutions. The AFP said on Monday that it questioned 'the motivation of the individual interviewed by Four Corners'. 'That person has been charged by the AFP for an alleged illicit drug importation, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment,' an AFP spokesperson said. 'That person is also accused of unlawfully leaving Australia while on bail.' On Monday, NSW police told Guardian Australia: 'Operation Kissinger is an investigation by the joint counter terrorism team (JCTT) comprising members of NSW police force, Australian federal police, NSW crime commission and Asio. 'The NSW police force is committed to preventing and disrupting any threat to the safety and wellbeing of the community and has been working collaboratively with our partner agencies under JCTT arrangements to investigate terrorist activities, since its establishment in 2002.' NSW police said a number of people connected to the investigation had been charged and remained before the courts, and, for 'operational reasons', would not comment further. Guardian Australia contacted Akca for comment.
News.com.au
05-05-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Underworld figure's shock admission about Dural caravan bomb plot
An underworld figure accused of a series of anti-Semitic attacks across Sydney has admitted he was involved in sourcing explosives for the Dural caravan bomb plot. In mid-January, a caravan with explosives and paper with anti-Semitic slurs and a list of Jewish targets was found in Dural in Sydney's northwest. While NSW Premier Chris Minns indicated it may have been a 'potential mass casualty event', the Australian Federal Police later revealed it was a 'fabricated terrorist plot' that was 'concocted by criminals who wanted to cause fear for personal benefit'. The plot came months after a spate of anti-Semitic attacks across Sydney, including firebombings, anti-Semitic graffiti sprayed onto homes and synagogues targeted with spray-painted swastikas. Police said they believed Sayet Erhan Akca – an underworld figure who is hiding out in Turkey – played a key role in the hoax anti-Semitic terror plot in an effort to get a reduced sentence and have his bail reinstated should he return to Australia. Akca fled the country in 2023 after being charged with conspiracy to import a commercial amount of illicit dugs as part of Operation Ironside, organised in part by the AFP. Speaking to ABC's Four Corners from his hide-out, Akca admitted he approached the AFP in an attempt to return to Australia on the condition that he would hand stolen explosives over. He claimed he did not purchase the explosives but intercepted them during a black-market sale. 'I was giving them explosives,' he told the outlet. 'I said, 'Look, I've got information on a movement of explosives. I can seize it and I can hand it over'.' NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson told NSW parliament there was a 'common source' between the caravan plot and '14 separate incidents' aimed to 'create absolute fear and anxiety in the Jewish community'. 'In exchange for providing information of an imminent threat, they wanted to return to Australia without being sent straight to jail,' he said. However, Akca denied the allegation, claiming it 'doesn't match (his) timeline', and said he didn't orchestrate the caravan plot. In the Four Corners interview, he claimed to have instructed the driver of the caravan to remove the detonator from the explosives. 'My clear instruction was, 'Make sure this is not gonna explode',' he said. Akca also claimed to have no knowledge about the list of Jewish targets inside the vehicle and would have 'taken it out' had he known. 'I'm not in Australia. I don't know who put that in,' he said.
Perth Now
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Underworld figure's admission on Dural plot
An underworld figure accused of a series of anti-Semitic attacks across Sydney has admitted he was involved in sourcing explosives for the Dural caravan bomb plot. In mid-January, a caravan with explosives and paper with anti-Semitic slurs and a list of Jewish targets was found in Dural in Sydney's northwest. While NSW Premier Chris Minns indicated it may have been a 'potential mass casualty event', the Australian Federal Police later revealed it was a 'fabricated terrorist plot' that was 'concocted by criminals who wanted to cause fear for personal benefit'. Sayet Akca has admitted to sourcing the explosives. Facebook Credit: Supplied The plot came months after a spate of anti-Semitic attacks across Sydney, including firebombings, anti-Semitic graffiti sprayed onto homes and synagogues targeted with spray-painted swastikas. Police said they believed Sayet Erhan Akca – an underworld figure who is hiding out in Turkey – played a key role in the hoax anti-Semitic terror plot in an effort to get a reduced sentence and have his bail reinstated should he return to Australia. The caravan contained explosives and a list of Jewish targets. NewsWire / Damian Shaw Credit: News Corp Australia Speaking to ABC's Four Corners from his hide-out, Akca admitted he approached the AFP in an attempt to return to Australia on the condition that he would hand stolen explosives over. He claimed he did not purchase the explosives but intercepted them during a black-market sale. 'I was giving them explosives,' he told the outlet. 'I said, 'Look, I've got information on a movement of explosives. I can seize it and I can hand it over'.' NSW Police alleged there was a 'common source' behind the caravan plot and a spate of anti-Semitic attacks. NewsWire / Simon Bullard. Credit: News Corp Australia NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson told NSW parliament there was a 'common source' between the caravan plot and '14 separate incidents' aimed to 'create absolute fear and anxiety in the Jewish community'. 'In exchange for providing information of an imminent threat, they wanted to return to Australia without being sent straight to jail,' he said. However, Akca denied the allegation, claiming it 'doesn't match (his) timeline', and said he didn't orchestrate the caravan plot. In the Four Corners interview, he claimed to have instructed the driver of the caravan to remove the detonator from the explosives. 'My clear instruction was, 'Make sure this is not gonna explode',' he said. Akca also claimed to have no knowledge about the list of Jewish targets inside the vehicle and would have 'taken it out' had he known. 'I'm not in Australia. I don't know who put that in,' he said. NewsWire has contacted NSW Police and the AFP for comment.
