Police Raised Suspicions About Terrorist Connection to Explosive Caravan, Investigation Finds

Senior New South Wales (NSW) police officers had doubts early on that the caravan found in January on the outskirts of Sydney was not likely the work of terrorists. NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Dave Hudson, responsible for counter-terrorism operations, raised these concerns during initial briefings with government officials.

“I expressed my suspicion over the motivation behind it from very early on,” Hudson stated.

Despite these doubts, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) initiated a counter-terrorism investigation, keeping a close eye on the matter. Ultimately, it was uncovered that the caravan was part of a false flag operation orchestrated by organised criminals to manipulate law enforcement and create fear for personal gain.

Initial Alarm and Discovery

Discovered in Dural on Jan. 19, the caravan contained improvised explosives, anti-Semitic literature, and a list of addresses connected to Jewish individuals and institutions, raising concerns of a potential mass-casualty incident. References to the Great Synagogue in Sydney’s CBD further heightened authorities’ alarm.

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After the news of the discovery became public, NSW Premier Chris Minns suggested that police may have prevented a significant tragedy. Later, on March 10, AFP Deputy Commissioner for National Security Krissy Barrett publicly revealed that the caravan did not pose a genuine terrorist threat.

“Today, I can reveal the caravan was never going to cause a mass casualty event,” Barrett informed reporters. “It was concocted by criminals who wanted to cause fear for personal benefit.”

Police Maintained Skepticism

Hudson dismissed claims that NSW Police were deceived, stating, “I don’t think the NSW Police were conned.” Both Hudson and NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb acknowledged that terrorism charges were considered, despite internal doubts about the threat’s authenticity.

“In our briefings … we discussed our concerns about this investigation but emphasized that we had to treat it with utmost seriousness,” Webb mentioned. She further informed state ministers of her apprehensions about the incident potentially being a hoax.

Questions Arise Over Law Timing

Senior police officials are currently facing inquiries about the timeline of events after concerns were raised that the government might have exploited the incident to bolster the passage of new hate crime legislation. Minns defended his decision, citing a surge in racism in NSW as the reason for introducing the laws.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton called for an independent inquiry into the alleged delay in briefing the prime minister, while Albanese refrained from disclosing specific details due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.

AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw also declined to provide details on briefing timelines, citing operational sensitivity during a Senate inquiry.

Link to Other Anti-Semitic Incidents

The caravan incident coincided with a string of anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney, including arson and graffiti targeting a synagogue and the former home of a Jewish community leader. Authorities now believe these incidents were connected to the same false flag operation, where individuals were allegedly paid to carry out acts of violence to reinforce fear and support the false narrative surrounding the caravan.

Barrett outlined why doubts were raised quickly, stating, “This was because of the information they already had, how easily the caravan was found, and how visible the explosives were in the caravan. Also, there was no detonator.”

Political Fallout and Accusations

In response to Dutton’s criticism, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke accused the opposition of politicizing the issue and spreading unwarranted fear. The Dural caravan plot has shifted from a security concern to a political controversy, sparking debates on transparency, intelligence handling, and fear-mongering in policy-making.

AAP contributed to this article.