Authorities in New South Wales have confirmed that a caravan discovered in Dural, containing explosives and materials with antisemitic messages, was part of a fabricated terror plot orchestrated by organised criminals.

The caravan was uncovered in January and prompted a significant police response due to initial fears of a potential mass casualty event targeting the Jewish community.

The caravan, which was found in a semi-rural area of north-west Sydney, held powergel explosives, typically utilized in the mining sector, with the potential to generate a blast radius of 40 meters.

Additionally, a note within the caravan contained the phrase "f--- the Jews" along with addresses linked to Jewish individuals and institutions.

Initially, police treated the situation as a credible terror threat, mobilizing over 100 counter-terrorism detectives for investigation.

However, during a recent press briefing, Deputy Commissioner David Hudson of the New South Wales Police and Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett of the Australian Federal Police stated that the tip-offs that led to the discovery of the caravan had been fabricated as part of the criminals' scheme.

Barrett elaborated on the nature of the plan, wherein the orchestrators aimed to create an illusion of a terror attack targeting Jewish Australians.

This involved purchasing the caravan, loading it with explosives, and leaving it in a visible location to incite panic, all while maintaining plausible deniability.

According to Barrett, investigators believed almost immediately after discovering the caravan that it was a fabricated plot, noting the conspicuous placement of the explosives and the absence of a detonator.

Although the incident was initially investigated as a terrorism case due to precautionary measures, the assessment shifted once the nature of the plot became clear.

The conspirators allegedly intended to leverage the fabricated terror threat as a bargaining chip to improve their criminal standings, distancing themselves from the logistics by enlisting local criminals.

While authorities have not disclosed further information about the perpetrators, they confirmed that individuals involved are located both within Australia and offshore.

Barrett emphasized the negative impact this fraudulent scheme has had on the Jewish community, describing the actions of the organized criminals as reprehensible.

The revelation of the fake terror plot has raised concerns within the Australian Jewish community, prompting heightened anxiety amidst existing antisemitic incidents across the country.

Alex Ryvchin, co-Chief Executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, expressed that the situation has compounded uncertainty regarding safety, especially in light of recent antisemitic attacks, including firebombings targeting synagogues and homes.

In a related development, on the same day of the press briefing, police announced the arrest of 14 individuals in connection to a separate investigation into antisemitic incidents in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

The arrests were part of ongoing efforts under Strike Force Pearl, initiated in December to address rising antisemitism, and resulted in charges spanning 49 offences, including property damage, vehicle theft, arson, and drug-related crimes.