Sayed Moosawi: High-ranking bikie boss denies allegations he was ‘James Bond’ who directed arson attacks in Bondi Beach

The Australian Federal Police has been accused of withholding the name of a criminal source as a former high-ranking bikie denied being the mysterious “James Bond” behind Bondi arson attacks.

The Australian Federal Police has been accused of withholding the name of the criminal source who tipped it off about the allegedly “fabricated” caravan terror plot, sparking a breakdown between law enforcement agencies throughout the entire investigation.

While AFP Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett and her NSW counterpart Dave Hudson presented a united front at a press conference on Monday to announce they ­believed the plot was a ­“criminal con job”, tensions have been high between the agencies since soon after the caravan filled with explosives was found at Dural.

Sky News host Sharri Markson reported on Tuesday night that the AFP was “played” by the source who first told them about the caravan and that the AFP withheld information about that source – including their name – from other law enforcement agencies, even after NSW Police discovered the caravan loaded with ­explosives on January 19.

It is understood senior NSW Police immediately had beliefs the caravan plot posed no genuine terror threat but the AFP persisted to the point a search warrant served almost two weeks after the caravan was found stated they were still investigating “terrorism”.

In a statement, the AFP said: “All threats are taken seriously by the AFP. It was a decision by all agencies – the AFP, ASIO, NSW Police and the NSW Crime Commission – that the matter be investigated by the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team.”

Tensions between the AFP and its state counterparts are nothing new, with relations with NSW Police and WA Police in particular severely deteriorating in recent years.

Meanwhile, Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said despite revelations of the plot being a “con job” allegedly masterminded by organised crime figures hoping to trade information on the caravan for a reduced sentence, his community had still been “terrorised” over recent months.

“The Jewish community now has to contend with anti-Semitism emanating from violent criminal gangs as well as familiar ideological and political sources,” Mr Ryvchin said.

“There is also strong ­concern in the community that the characterisation of the Dural incident as a ‘hoax’ has led to the denial or diminishing of the severity of the anti-Semitism crisis and has empowered dark, conspiratorial elements of our society.

“It is critical that governments and law enforcement continue to treat anti-Semitism as the grave and persistent threat that it is.”

The AFP and NSW Police worked hand-in-hand earlier this week when they carried out raids across Sydney, leading to 14 people being arrested over alleged anti-Semitic attacks around the city.

One of those arrested was former Nomads bikie Sayed Mohammed Moosawi, who denies allegations he is the mysterious “James Bond” who directed arson attacks on two Bondi businesses in October.

Moosawi is not alleged to have been involved in the caravan plot, but police claim he directed Craig ­Bantoft and Guy Finnegan to “intentionally and in company, cause damage” to the Curly Lewis Brewery on Bondi Beach.

Bantoft and Finnegan have both pleaded guilty to setting the brewery alight between 2am and 3am on October 13, with the latter already sentenced to 10 months in jail.

Messages revealed in court documents relating to Bantoft and Finnegan’s matters detailed how someone going by the name “jamesbond” unleashed on the pair for the botched fire on encrypted app Signal in the aftermath.

Police allege Moosawi was “jamesbond”, who told the two men: “F... me it’s not even 2 per cent burned”.

Moosawi has been charged with knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group, being an accessory before the fact to destroying property in company using fire and being an accessory before the fact to damaging property by fire or explosion.

The 32-year-old’s matter was before Waverley Local Court, where lawyer Zemarai Khatiz entered not guilty pleas on his behalf on Tuesday.

Toongabbie man Anthony Wiseman, 23, faced Blacktown Local Court after being arrested in the raids amid claims he spray-painted anti-Semitic graffiti on multiple motor vehicles and properties on Henry St in Queens Park on January 11.

A woman arrested by the strike force. Picture: NSW Police

Wiseman was also charged with allegedly possessing testosterone and methamphetamine, better known as “ice”, which it is alleged he was intending to supply.

Charged with participating in a criminal group, destroying or damaging property, knowingly driving a stolen vehicle and possessing and supplying a prohibited drug, Wiseman did not apply for bail.

Meanwhile, Cassie Sue Crowder faced Sutherland Local Court, where police alleged her car was used in some of the anti-Semitic attacks over which others have already been charged under Strike Force Pearl.

Police told the court the offences targeted “minority groups in Australian communities” and magistrate Holly Kemp denied Crowder’s application for bail.

Crowder and Wiseman will return to court on March 25, while others charged as part of Monday’s raids will appear in the coming weeks.

14 ARRESTS IN ANTI-SEMITIC BLITZ

Moosawi is one of 14 people arrested following investigations into anti-Semitic crimes in Sydney’s east with 65 charges laid.

The arrests, part of Strike Force Pearl, targeted individuals allegedly involved in arson attacks and graffiti across the Eastern Suburbs between October 2024 and February 2025.

It comes after police investigating an explosive-laden van found in a Dural property executed 11 search warrants along with three firearm prohibition orders across Sydney on Monday.

Anthony Wiseman

In additional to Moosawi’s court appearance, Toongabbie man Anthony Wiseman, 23, faced Blacktown Local Court on Tuesday over allegations he spray-painted graffiti on multiple motor vehicles and properties on Henry St, Queens Park on January 11.

It’s also alleged Wiseman had three vials of testosterone cypionate in his possession in March, along with methamphetamine which he is accused of intending to supply.

He has been charged with participating in a criminal group, destroying or damaging property, knowingly driving a stolen vehicle and possessing and supplying a prohibited drug.

Wiseman did not apply for bail and his matter was adjourned and moved to Waverley Local Court to be heard with a co-accused.

He will return to court on March 25.

Cassie Sue Crowder

The court heard the woman’s car is alleged to have been used during some of the alleged attacks which other people in this strike force have been charged over.

The 26-year-old is also facing drug-related charges after police raided her car and a Campbelltown property, seizing methamphetamine and prescription medications.

Crowder’s lawyer, Nicholas Digges, said his client’s alleged participation in a criminal group fell at the lowest level, while some of the meth under her supply charge may have been for personal use due to her addiction.

The police prosecutor opposed bail and said Crowder’s alleged offending took place when she was on bail for other matters in Victoria.

“These were acts of vandalism targeted at minority groups in Australian communities,” he said.

He said there would be a risk of Crowder endangering the community, or reoffending if she was granted bail.

Magistrate Holly Kemp said the prosecution appeared to have a strong case and denied bail.

Others charged

A 31-year-old Camperdown man has also been charged with directing criminal activities and arson-related offences, while two men from the Central Coast were charged over their alleged roles in providing vehicles used in a $3.4 million childcare centre arson attack. Others arrested face charges ranging from criminal group participation, drug possession and weapon offences to graffiti-related crimes.

Police allege a 33-year-old man vandalised properties in Randwick and Kingsford, while a 25-year-old man spray-painted vehicles in Queens Park.

Two men arrested in Penshurst face multiple charges, with one accused of resisting police and graffitiing sites in Maroubra, Eastgardens and Eastlakes.

Another man, 26, was arrested in Wentworth Point for alleged drug offences and dealing with proceeds of crime.

Along with Moosawi, another man who was also in custody was taken to Burwood Police Station and charged with an additional offence of destroying or damaging property intended for criminal activity of the group.

Two women were also arrested, one in Sutherland for drug-related offences and another in Eastlakes for possessing prohibited substances and an electronic stun device.

Strike Force Pearl has now resulted in 29 arrests and 143 charges.

Investigations continue.

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