Details surrounding the arrest of several people police who allege could have been linked to a caravan full of explosives in Sydney have come to light. It comes as police defend having kept their investigations under wraps until they were leaked by media.
It can now be reported that one woman arrested in relation to the van full of explosives had already been charged over a prior anti-Semitic event, while the owner of the van was already in custody regarding unrelated anti-Semitic offences.
The updates come following the Jan. 29 announcement that a passer-by had alerted police to a van filled with Powergel explosives on a country road at Dural on Sydney’s outskirts on Jan. 19.
Police stated the vehicle contained enough explosives to blast a 40-metre area. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared the incident an act of terror.
Officers only made the announcement about the van after details were leaked in the media, citing a clandestine operation.
The arrested woman, Tammie Farrugia, was previously charged over the anti-Semitic arson attack at Woollahra on Dec. 11, which caused $20,000 worth of damages.
Police allege Farrugia posted on Facebook on Dec. 10 asking if anyone had plastic jerry cans.
It has also been revealed that Farrugia also allegedly posted on social media in December asking if anyone had a caravan for sale.
Farrugia’s partner, Scott Marshall, was also been arrested.
Additionally, police have confirmed the owner of the caravan is someone who is already in custody as part of Strike Force Pearl, Sydney’s police operation targeting anti-Semitism.
Left in the Dark: Jewish Leader
Some members of the Jewish community have expressed concern that their safety could have been impacted by police remaining tight-lipped on investigations.Executive Council of Australian Jewry Peter Wertheim said the first he'd heard of the van full of explosives was only after it had been reported in the media.
“Yesterday we learned of a caravan ... that contained explosives that would’ve been enough to cause a blast [of] sufficient force to cause mass casualties—many people killed, many people injured ... ,” he told media.
“The feelings in the Jewish community are not only of understandable concern and anxiety because of the repeated nature of these attacks, but increasingly, one of anger.
“I think it’s an anger that is shared more widely by a very large number of Australians who have had a gutful of these events—they bring shame on our country, they demean us as a nation … they do not represent our national values.
“We’re angry because we’re seeing the Australia we’ve been fortunate enough to live in… the rule of law, is starting to slip away from us, and our children, and from future generations.”
Police Defend Covert Operation
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb addressed media on Jan. 30, visibly bothered by the breakdown of the clandestine investigation around the van.Webb said the incident required police “to go about our business without compromising the investigation.”
“The fact this information is now in the public domain has compromised our investigation and has been detrimental to some of the strategies we may have used,” she said.
“So it’s very important that we maintain our community consultation, we involve the community, but there is a point where police-practice investigative strategy is not compromised, and was it necessary?”
Webb said police had ensured there was no threat to the community from keeping investigations under wraps for 10 days.
“And certainly, all of our activities remain ongoing, over 300 patrols every night in Sydney to reassure the public that we are there,” she said.
Strategies No Longer ‘Viable’
Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Reece Kershaw said police had been sent back to the drawing board by media leaks on the case, with “covert strategies now no longer viable.”“We will need to re-posture our approach and we’re having discussions today in relation to that as to how we approach the investigations from here on,” he told media.
“We think they are linked to some of our Strike Force Pearl investigations.
“There is still, as we saw last night, an ongoing threat within the Jewish community against Jewish interests.”
Kershaw was referencing a slew of anti-Semitic graffiti sprayed around Sydney overnight.
Criminals for Hire, Says PM
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told ABC Radio that police were following lines of enquiry regarding the possibility of criminals for hire.“The police have indicated very clearly that there is evidence that across a range of these incidents that there are criminal elements involved,” he said.
“That is that people are being paid to commit what are crimes.”
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton called the incident “a grave and sinister escalation in this insidious rise of unchecked antisemitism in our country.”
Terror Attempts Foiled Often: Minns
NSW Premier Chris Minns, who has heavily condemned the act of terror, said information would be released if necessary when it came to police investigations, but also defended officers’ actions in keeping quiet.Minns told media that officers had foiled countless terror attacks in the past 25 years, often completely unnoticed.
“If the police believe that covert means are the best way of locking up people who are responsible for these actions, that’s what needs to happen,” he said.
“And I think the average person would say for the last 25 years since Sept. 11, the CT (counter-terrorism) Command, NSW Police have kept us safe, they’ve foiled terrorist attempt after terrorist attempt over and over again, often completely unheralded and their tactics and methods have worked.
Anti-Semitic Graffiti Being Investigated
A Sydney Jewish school was targeted by anti-Semitic graffiti overnight, with children arriving for their first day back at school to scenes of police.The offensive slogans were plastered across Mount Sinai College, local infrastructure, the fence of a nearby home and a local shopping centre.
“Eastern Beaches Police Area Command is investigating after offensive graffiti was reported at two sites at Maroubra and Eastgardens about 6:45 a.m. (on Jan. 30),” NSW Police told The Epoch Times.
“South Sydney Police Area Command is investigating offensive graffiti reported at East Lakes about 7 a.m. (Jan. 30).”
Commissioner Webb said police were working on catching the vandals.
“All those matters remain under investigation,” she said.
“Of particular concern is the graffiti on the school at Maroubra ... school starts back today. So those kids will be walking in to see that vile messaging.
“The graffiti overnight will be under investigation and taken as seriously as other matters, and we’ll continue to hunt those people until we find them.”
Inquiries are ongoing and police urge anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The incidents come as reports of violent crimes against Jews in Australia have steadily risen in the wake of the Oct. 7 terror attacks on Israel.
