**Australian Police Declare Explosive Caravan Plot a Hoax Linked to Organized Crime**

**Australian Federal Police stress the need for vigilance following the fraudulent plot that exacerbated fears within the Jewish community.**

 

Authorities in Australia have officially dubbed the explosive-filled caravan discovered earlier this year in Sydney a false alarm, revealing that it was part of a carefully fabricated scheme orchestrated by organized criminals. The caravan, found on January 19 in northwest Sydney, was loaded with enough explosives to generate a shockwave spanning 40 meters, accompanied by a note with antisemitic sentiments and a list of local Jewish synagogues.

The alarming discovery fueled anxiety amidst a rising tide of antisemitic incidents across the country. However, Australian Federal Police (AFP) deputy commissioner for national security, Krissy Barrett, reported that investigators suspected the plot was a hoax "almost immediately." The New South Wales Joint Counter Terrorism Team's initial belief stemmed from pre-existing intelligence, the conspicuous nature of the explosives, and the absence of any detonating mechanism.

Despite their suspicions, police opted not to inform the public right away to avoid escalating panic while they received reports about other potential threats. Barrett indicated that they are now convinced these additional tips were similarly baseless.

The criminal scheme behind the caravan was said to involve multiple individuals with varying degrees of participation, who plotted to procure a caravan, stock it with explosives and antisemitic literature, and later alert law enforcement to a fictitious terror attack targeting Jewish Australians. Barrett detailed the plot as an "elaborate scheme devised by organized criminals," including both domestic and international elements, noting that the figure steering the operation had remained aloof while delegating responsibilities to local offenders.

While no arrests have occurred directly linked to the caravan incident, authorities have several ongoing investigations both internally and abroad. Barrett condemned the actions of these criminals, stressing that their manipulation and exploitation of the Jewish community is unacceptable.

Moreover, police reported that their anti-hate crime operation, dubbed Strike Force Pearl, resulted in 14 arrests linked to a rise in antisemitic activity across Sydney. NSW Police deputy commissioner David Hudson stated that the caravan incident was connected to these other occurrences, asserting that the same individual or group appears responsible for fostering a divide within the community. He expressed concerns about how organized crime has exploited societal vulnerabilities, particularly heightened tensions post-October 7, 2023, underscoring the necessity to respond firmly to prevent further manipulation of the circumstances affecting the Jewish community.