Australian Federal Police knew about explosive-laden caravan, didn’t tell NSW Police before discovery at Dural

The Australian Federal Police knew a caravan laden with ­explosives existed before it was found at Dural, but did not inform NSW Police until a local man moved it. Here’s why they believe it was a fabricated story.

The Australian Federal Police knew a caravan laden with ­explosives existed before it was found at Dural, but did not inform NSW Police until a local man moved it.

The AFP and NSW Police on Monday revealed they were confident the caravan was part of a “fabricated terrorist plot” masterminded by organised crime figures and was “never going to cause a mass casualty event”.

Instead they allege those organised crime figures had sought a reduced sentence by telling authorities about the whereabouts of the caravan, in exchange for a letter of assistance they could use in court.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the AFP had been approached around the turn of the new year by an associate of a crime group purporting to have highly prized intelligence, but the force never alerted its state counterparts.

Before the AFP could seize the caravan, it was inadvertently moved by a Dural resident who was worried it was precariously parked on Derriwong Rd and could cause a car accident.

The Dural property on which NSW Police found the caravan containing explosives. Picture: Jeremy Piper

When that resident finally alerted NSW Police on January 19, the caravan was seized.

“Even a phone call and we might have found it,” a senior NSW Police source said.

On Monday, 14 people were arrested and five charged after more than 250 investigators carried out 11 search warrants related to Strike Force Pearl – the probe into widespread anti-Semitism attacks in ­Sydney.

Police said they would lay up to 49 charges, including arson and participating in criminal groups.

NSW Premier Chris Minns initially called the Dural caravan incident a “terrorism” event. Picture: Richard Dobson

Investigators allege one of those arrested, a 34-year-old man who was already in custody, directed the commission of arson attacks at Bondi Beach.

None of the charges laid so far were linked to the caravan.

AFP Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett said investigators had believed from very early on that the caravan plot was fake, but they had to treat the threat as serious.

“Almost immediately, experienced investigators in the Joint Counter Terrorism Team believed that the caravan was part of a fabricated terrorist plot, essentially a criminal con job,” she said.

“This was because of the information they already had, how easily the caravan was found and how visible the explosives were in the caravan, (and) also there was no detonator.

“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.

“We believe the person pulling the strings wanted changes to their criminal status but maintained a distance from their scheme and hired alleged local criminals to carry out parts of their plan.”

Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett addresses the media on Monday. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

The AFP said it was now working with “overseas law enforcement” as they investigated the crime groups behind the plot.

An AFP spokeswoman would not elaborate on when the agency received information about explosives in the caravan.

Criminals have long handed over weapons and information in an effort to get time taken off jail sentences.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson said it was similarly believed many of the graffiti and firebombing attacks in Sydney had been “orchestrated by an organised crime element” and that none of those “arrested through Strike Force Pearl have shown anti-Semitic ideologies”.

Premier Chris Minns praised the “dogged” investigations of police after a “summer of hateful, vicious incidents”.

“There is no mistake that these acts have wrought fear and anxiety in our Jewish community and we will not tolerate this – not now, not ever,” Mr Minns said.

The Telegraph broke news of the discovery of the caravan filled with explosives on January 29, with a police source adding a caveat: “Some things don’t add up … it could well possibly be a set-up.”

While Mr Minns called the incident a “terrorism” event at a press conference that night, Mr Hudson said investigators were already looking at organised crime links to the plot.

Originally published as Australian Federal Police knew about explosive-laden caravan, didn’t tell NSW Police before discovery at Dural