Police raids uncover criminal con job behind Dural caravan explosives plot

The Australian Federal Police has revealed that the Dural caravan packed with explosives and antisemitic material was part of an elaborate criminal con job, not an actual terror plot.

The bombshell announcement came today as police carried out raids across Sydney, arresting multiple individuals linked to the scheme.

At a press conference, AFP Deputy Commissioner National Security Krissy Barrett provided the first public details about Operation Kissinger, the AFP’s covert investigation into those responsible for the staged attack.

“Today, 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,” Barrett said.

How the Fake Plot Was Uncovered

The caravan, discovered on January 19 in Dural, was found to contain Power Gel explosives and handwritten notes referencing Jewish sites, including the Great Synagogue and the Sydney Jewish Museum. Initially, NSW Premier Chris Minns labelled the incident a potential mass-casualty terrorism event, but within hours, counter-terror investigators suspected something was off.

Barrett explained that experienced officers from the Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT)—which includes the AFP, NSW Police, ASIO, and the NSW Crime Commission—quickly had doubts about the case.

“Almost immediately, experienced investigators within the JCTT believed that the caravan was part of a fabricated terrorism plot—essentially a criminal con job,” Barrett said.

“This was because of the information they already had, how easily the caravan was found, and how visible the explosives were. Also, there was no detonator.”

Despite these early suspicions, the JCTT continued to investigate the case as a potential terrorism incident due to a wave of tip-offs about other alleged attacks.

“Out of an abundance of caution, it was agreed by all agencies that the operation would remain a JCTT investigation. While we were confident all these tip-offs were fake, we could not risk ignoring the information provided,” Barrett stated.

Police are now fully confident the caravan plot was an organised crime scheme, orchestrated by criminals both in Australia and offshore.

The Criminal Plan: How the Scam Worked

According to the AFP, the fake terror plot was carefully planned:

• A caravan was purchased by someone connected to the scheme.
• Explosives and antisemitic materials were placed inside.
• The caravan was abandoned in a high-visibility location.
• Once it was “discovered,” someone involved in the scheme tipped off police, hoping to use the threat as leverage for a lighter sentence or reduced criminal charges.

The AFP believes the mastermind behind the plot was a high-ranking organised crime figure, who maintained distance from the plan and hired local criminals to carry it out.

“An AFP operational strategy is in place to take action against this individual,” Barrett said, declining to provide further details.

Antisemitic Targeting and the Impact on the Jewish Community

While authorities have now confirmed that the caravan was not a genuine terrorist attack, police acknowledged that it deliberately targeted Jewish Australians—causing fear and distress in the community.

“Regardless of the motivation of those responsible for this fake plot, this has had a chilling effect on the Jewish community,” Barrett said.

“What organised crime has done to the Jewish community is reprehensible, and it won’t go without consequence.”

She also condemned criminals who use antisemitism to manipulate law enforcement.

“Those creating fake terror threats, including using antisemitism 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.”

Raids, Arrests, and What’s Next

As part of today’s large-scale police operation, 200 officers executed 11 search warrants across Sydney, leading to multiple arrests. The AFP has not ruled out further charges, with Barrett warning: “I predict more arrests will come.”

Authorities have also linked the caravan suspects to other criminal activities, including a separate antisemitic arson and graffiti attack in Woollahra in December, where the words “kill Israiel” [sic] were spray-painted on a wall.

The AFP has confirmed that some of the same criminals involved in the Dural caravan plot were also behind previous fake terror threats, where offenders were paid to stage attacks in order to gain legal advantages.

Barrett issued a stark warning to criminals:

“This is a rare time I will provide advice to criminals: serve your time quietly in prison and stop diverting the resources of terrorism investigators, otherwise your charges could be significantly upgraded.”

Authorities have assured the public that the caravan never posed an active threat, but its impact on community safety and trust has been significant. The investigation into those responsible—both in Australia and overseas—remains ongoing.

As today’s arrests unfold, more details are expected to emerge. NSW Police and the AFP have vowed to continue pursuing every individual involved in the fake terror plot.

Jewish Community Responds to Strike Force Pearl Arrests

In response to today’s arrests, David Ossip, President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, issued a statement acknowledging the efforts of NSW Police and the AFP in targeting those responsible for recent attacks against Sydney’s Jewish community.

“We welcome the further raids undertaken today by NSW Police and the arrest of 14 people in relation to recent attacks on the Jewish community in Sydney,” Ossip said.

He praised Strike Force Pearl for dedicating significant resources to the investigation and expressed gratitude to law enforcement for their commitment to bringing those responsible to justice.

“The criminals who allegedly arranged and carried out these violent attacks sought to take advantage of already-strained social cohesion and unprecedented levels of antisemitism by targeting the Jewish community for their own personal benefit. This is reprehensible and had a chilling effect on the Jewish community.”

Ossip stressed that while the revelation that the Dural caravan plot was fabricated is important, it does not erase the fear and anxiety that Sydney’s Jewish community has endured.

“The findings of this investigation should not in any way diminish the summer of fear and anxiety which the Jewish community experienced or the vicious nature of the attacks, which included the attempted arson of synagogues and the firebombing of a childcare centre.”

He also pointed to the record levels of antisemitism in Australia over the past 18 months, noting that while today’s arrests may provide some comfort, they do not change the broader security concerns facing the Jewish community.

“We will continue to engage closely with law enforcement agencies and the NSW Government in relation to these matters and the ongoing security of the Jewish community.”