Alleged anti-Semitic ‘hoax’ vandals front court

Alleged vandal Tammie Farrugia and a suspected puppeteer of Sydney’s ‘fabricated’ anti-Semitic attacks, Nicholas Alexander, have both faced court.

Scott Marshall and Tammie Farrugia, suspects in the Dural caravan plot and the alleged perpetrators of a Woollahra vandalism attack.

Four key suspects in the spree of “hoax” anti-Semitic vandalism attacks have faced court for the sprawling conspiracy which menaced Sydney’s Jewish population, culminating in the fabricated Dural caravan terror plot.

Tammie Farrugia, 34, and her partner Scott Marshall, 36, were set for mention at the Downing Centre Local Court over their alleged involvement in the malicious damage of vehicles and buildings in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

The December 11 vandalism attack which they are alleged to have abetted was the second such incident in Woollahra and came just days after the firebombing of Melbourne’s Adass synagogue. A car was set alight on Magney Street while properties were splattered with threats including “Kill Israiel” (sic). The culprits caused an estimated $20,000 damage.

Ms Farrugia’s case was adjourned until May 1, while Mr Marshall’s matter had not been heard by 11am on Thursday.

Ms Farrugia and Mr Marshall were also investigated after a caravan was found by a roadside in Dural loaded with mining explosives, along with a list of addresses including the Sydney Jewish Museum and the Great Synagogue. The pair were named on a search warrant after police were alerted to the possible threat. Neither has been charged in relation to that matter.

Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett later dispelled fears of a terrorist “mass casualty threat”, instead saying it was a “criminal con job” designed to garner false leverage in separate negotiations between police and organised crime figures.

Also facing court was Nicholas Alexander, who police believe is a central figure in helping orchestrate five attacks through January, including allegedly planning the Maroubra childcare arson attack which caused more than $3 million in damages.

Mr Alexander is facing one charge of directing the activities of a criminal group over three weeks in January, and nine charges related to being an accessory before the fact for five separate incidents that month.

Police will allege he is also implicated in the Dover Heights attack which targeted the former home of Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chair Alex Ryvchin, the attempted arson of the Newtown Synagogue and a string of Queens Park vandalism attacks.

Crown prosecutors said his case involved “a fair amount of forensics”, seeking a four week adjournment, which was granted.

He will appear via video link on April 30 at the Downing Centre.

The alleged perpetrators behind the attempted Newtown Synagogue arson — Adam Moule, 33, and Leon Sofilas, 37 — were also mentioned on Thursday and had their matter adjourned until May 1.

In March, NSW Police’s dedicated anti-Semitism task-force made a series of co-ordinated raids, arresting 14 alleged offenders charged with a total of 65 offences. It brought the total to 29 arrests with 143 charges.