Fourteen people charged over anti-Semitic incidents in Sydney’s east after explosive-laden caravan revealed as hoax

More than 10 people have been hit with fresh charges over a string of anti-Semitic incidents in Sydney’s east, just a day after police revealed an explosive-laden caravan – initially feared to be a terror plot – was a hoax. Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett on Monday revealed a caravan found in Dural with explosives and a list of synagogues was “an elaborate scheme contrived by criminals”. “Today, I can reveal 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,” Ms Barrett said. The person “pulling the strings” wanted a change to their criminal status and kept a distance, she said, with local criminals hired. The caravan was found in the semirural Sydney suburb of Dural on January 19. The news came alongside 14 arrests under Strike Force Pearl, launched to target anti-Semitic incidents across the state. However, the arrests were not related to the caravan. NSW Police are investigating three new anti-Semitic vandalism attacks across Sydney’s east, including offensive graffiti found near a Jewish primary school in Maroubra. Those arrested face a string of charges, including in relation to one incident in which an estimated $3.4m worth of damage was caused to a childcare centre in Maroubra. NSW Premier Chris Minns said the attacks caused “terror and fear”, which was “appalling for the community”, while speaking on 2GB on Tuesday morning. “We did see firebombings in Sydney, we did see an attempt to stoke fear and anxiety in the community, and I do think it unleashed a terror amongst sections,” Mr Minns said. He said Sydney should never have had to put up with the attacks and “we won’t tolerate it”. “We’re going to throw the book at anyone (involved),” he said. NSW Police released details of the charges on Tuesday morning. An 18-year-old San Remo man and 20-year-old Canton Beach man were charged with participate criminal group – contribute criminal activity, while the younger man was also charged with possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit over the alleged arson attack on the Maroubra childcare centre on January 21. Mr Minns at the time described the attack as “heartbreaking” and “appalling”. Police allege the pair provided vehicles that were used in the attack. Both men were granted conditional bail from Wyong Local Court and are set to front Downing Centre Local Court on March 26. A 37-year-old man was also charged with additional offences of accessory before the fact to damaging property by means of fire or explosion over his alleged involvement in the incident at the Maroubra childcare centre as well as possessing an unregistered firearm. Police allege a gun was seized during a search of a storage facility in January. The 37-year-old was remanded in custody and is set to front Downing Centre Local Court on April 3. A 40-year-old was charged with drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, participate criminal group contribute criminal, fail to comply digital evidence access order direction, give false etc info re digital evidence access order, and hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty. Police allege he graffitied a home and school in Maroubra as well as an Eastgardens shopping centre and an Eastlakes home. He was refused bail and is set to front Downing Centre Local Court on March 24. Police allege a 31-year-old man was involved in the “preparation and staging of motor vehicles and provisioning them with the equipment necessary for the commission of the offences”. He was charged with knowingly direct activities of criminal group, five counts of accessory before the fact to malicious damage in company, damage property in company use fire, two counts of destroy property in company use fire and break and enter in company destroy property. He was refused bail and is set to front Downing Centre Local Court on April 3. Charges laid over graffiti Police allege a 33-year-old man graffitied motor vehicles and properties in King Lane, Randwick and See Lane in Kingsford on February 2. He is charged with two counts of intentionally damage property in company, larceny and drive while disqualified as well as contravene ADVO, and an outstanding warrant for traffic offences was also executed. He was refused bail and is set to front Parramatta Local Court on March 13. A 25-year-old was charged with participate criminal group, damage property intend criminal activity of group and being carried in conveyance. Police will allege he graffitied motor vehicles and properties on Henry St in Queens Park on January 11. He was refused bail and is set to front Waverley Local Court on March 25. A 23-year-old was charged with participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, destroy/damage property intend criminal activity of group, drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, supply prohibited drug – indictable and possess prohibited drug. Police allege he graffitied motor vehicles and properties in Henry St in Queens Park on January 11. He was refused bail and is set to front Blacktown Local Court on Tuesday. A 30-year-old man was charged with possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit and possess prohibited drug, with police to allege an electronic stun device and steroids were seized during a warrant at a Penhurst property. He was granted conditional bail to front Sutherland Local Court on April 1. A 26-year-old was charged with possess prohibited drug, deal with proceeds of crime, possess DECCD to commit serious criminal activity and fail to comply digital evidence access order direction. Police allege two mobile phones and cash were seized during a search of a Wentworth property. The man is set to front Burwood Local Court on April 17 after he was granted conditional bail. A 43-year-old man was charged with knowingly direct activities of criminal group, accessory before the fact to destroy property in company use fire, and accessory before the fact. Bondi Beach arson attacks A 34-year-old and 41-year-old were both charged after they were transferred from a correctional facility. The younger man was charged with knowingly direct activities of criminal group, accessory before the fact to destroy property in company use fire, and accessory before the fact to damage property by fire/explosion. Police allege the man “directed the commission of the arson attacks at Bondi Beach”. He was remanded in custody to front Waverley Local Court on Tuesday. The older man was charged with the additional offence of destroy/damage property intend criminal activity of group. Police allege the man attended a Curlewis St business on October 20, 2024, and set the premises on fire after breaking in. He was remanded in custody and is set to front Downing Centre Local Court on March 27. A 26-year-old woman was charged with participate in criminal group, supply prohibited drug – indictable quantity, four counts of possess prescribed restricted substance, and five counts of possess prohibited drug. Police allege methylamphetamine and prescription medications were seized during a search of a car in Sutherland and a Campbelltown property. The woman was refused bail to front Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday. A 27-year-old woman was charged with three counts of possess prohibited drugs, two counts of possess/attempt to prescribed restricted substance, and possess or use a prohibited weapon. An outstanding warrant was also executed, with police set to allege cannabis, methylamphetamine, prescription medication and an electronic stun device were seized during a search of an Eastlakes property. The woman was granted conditional bail and is set to front Downing Centre Local Court on April 10. Twenty-nine people have been arrested as part of the strike force, with more than 140 charges laid.