Minns backs police decision to withhold information on van filled with explosives and anti-Jewish note
Premier Chris Minns has defended the decision to withhold information about a van filled with explosives and an anti-Jewish note, arguing counter-terrorism police needed to conduct a covert investigation.
NSW
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NSW Premier Chris Minns has defended the decision to withhold from the public information about a van filled with explosives, discovered in Sydney’s northwest earlier this month, saying counter-terrorism police needed to carry out their investigation in secrecy.
The van was found in Dural on January 19, containing a note with the addresses of a Sydney synagogue and other Jewish buildings, as well as a message that read “f**k the Jews.”
The discovery raised concerns that the van may have been intended for a terror attack.
In an interview with 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Thursday morning, Minns said it was “difficult to draw any other conclusion” about the intent behind the van but urged the public to trust the counter-terrorism police, who he said are “the best in the country.”
“Police made operational decisions in order to keep the public safe, to arrest those responsible for these terrible alleged acts and to ensure that a full investigation can take place,” he said on 2GB.
The Premier confirmed that police had not disclosed the discovery for over a week until it was leaked to the media.
“Regrettably, there was a media leak yesterday afternoon. Once that had appeared in the newspapers, it was clear that both myself and police had to do and talk about this publicly,” Minns said.
“But that doesn’t mean the police were twiddling their thumbs for the last nine or ten days.”
The Counter Terrorism Command, through Operation Pearl, is leading the investigation with 40 detectives involved.
A separate operation, Operation Shelter, is focused on protecting Jewish places of worship and community centres.
Minns reinforced that police would not immediately issue public statements on counter-terrorism investigations unless necessary.
“I can’t stress enough how important it is to have confidence in NSW police judgement in relation to these matters,” he said.
“There’s been so many attempts that have been foiled over the last 20 years in NSW.
“I can’t give a commitment that once police begin a counter-terrorism investigation, we’re going to immediately issue a media release.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
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