‘Planning acts of terrorism’: search warrant in caravan plot case revealed
The trio previously claimed by police to be on the ‘periphery’ of a caravan attack on Jewish targets are accused on a search warrant of planning and preparing acts of terrorism, as a relative of one of the accused claims his brother is “innocent”.
The three people arrested over their alleged involvement in anti-Semitic arson attacks previously claimed by police to be on the “periphery” of a foiled caravan bomb attack on Sydney’s Jewish community are accused in a search warrant of planning and preparing acts of terrorism, as a relative of one of the accused insisted his brother was innocent.
The search warrant, sighted by The Australian, alleges there are reasonable grounds for suspecting Tammie Farrugia, 34, Scott Marshall, 36, and Simon Nichols, 39, committed acts “done in preparation for, or planning, terrorist acts” in early December 2024.
None of the three has been charged with terrorism offences.
It comes as Ms Farrugia was mentioned at Campbelltown local court on Wednesday on charges involving a separate anti-Semitic attack in Woollahra in Sydney’s east last year where three buildings were graffitied and a stolen car was set alight.
It was the first time Ms Farrugia’s matter had been mentioned in court since the potential attack against Sydney’s Jewish community with a caravan bomb became public last week, but a Legal Aid representative said she had refused to appear via video link.
It comes as federal and state police, as well as national security agency ASIO, are attempting to uncover the identity of an unknown mastermind referred to as “James Bond” who was allegedly the puppetmaster pushing others to carry out a firebombing on a Bondi brewery they mistook for a Jewish deli with a similar name.
Police have previously suggested Ms Farrugia and some of the others arrested over their alleged involvement in anti-Semitic attacks across the state do not appear to hold a “specific ideology” against Jewish people, and that the discovery of the explosives in a Viscount Grand Tourer caravan on a Dural roadside in northwest Sydney was “orchestrated” by as-yet unidentified figures.
In court, a police prosecutor said Ms Farrugia’s matter would be proceeding on indictment with the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions.
A man who identified himself to court staff as a representative of the Australian Federal Police said he was in court for her matter and took notes in a small notepad.
The matter was adjourned to April 3, with Ms Farrugia ordered to appear before a magistrate at Downing Centre Local Court.
A man who said his name was Stewart told reporters he had no knowledge of the mysterious “James Bond” figure and that his brother had no access to television in custody. “He’s innocent, he has nothing to do with it,” Stewart said. “He’s just a good person, he doesn’t hate anyone. I don’t know why they’re doing it to him … he’s in NA (non-association, in custody), he’s not allowed to talk to anyone, that’s about it.”
Authorities are probing whether anti-Semitic attacks in NSW and other parts of Australia are being co-ordinated by foreign or domestic actors.
Ms Farrugia’s Liverpool housing commission home was raided by police on the morning of January 21 for her alleged involvement in the December 11 attack in which a the words “kill Israiel” (sic) and “death 2 Israiel” (sic) were scrawled across multiple buildings. A vehicle was destroyed by fire and another graffitied, causing a damage bill of approximately $20,000.
In January, Ms Farrugia was charged with participating in a criminal group/contributing to criminal activity, being an accessory before the fact to destroy or damage property, and a further charge of travelling inside a stolen vehicle.
Police say the caravan, allegedly laden with “powergel” explosives, had a potential blast radius of up to 40m.
Police have previously said Ms Farrugia and her partner, Mr Marshall, who is also charged with involvement in anti-Semitic attacks, were on the “periphery” of the investigation, but the search warrant seen by The Australian refers specifically to alleged planning or preparation for terrorist attacks.
Mr Marshall is charged with unlawfully obtaining goods, possessing cloned and stolen number plates, as well as two charges of possessing a prohibited weapon after he was allegedly found with a Taser and a knuckleduster.
The Australian understands 39-year-old Simon Lance Nichols was arrested on January 2 by Organised Crime Squad officers over eight allegedly stolen vehicles that were said to have been fixed with cloned plates, with officers allegedly discovering jerry cans with fuel inside some, unrelated to the caravan incident.
He is also a person of interest in the caravan matter, as well as an acquaintance of Ms Farrugia and Mr Marshall, but none of the trio has been charged with any terror offences.
Social media posts made on December 10 – the day before the Woollahra attack – by the mother of five will be relied upon in court, where she allegedly asked if anyone had jerry cans she could use.
“Anyone got any plastic Jerry cans plz let me know thanks in advance,” she allegedly posted in a local Facebook group.
After police had left the crime scene a large can of vegetable cooking oil with what smelled like petrol inside was left by the road.
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