Wellington, New Zealand – A trailer filled with explosives, initially described as an antisemitic terrorism threat, was revealed to be part of an elaborate hoax orchestrated by criminals, Australian police announced Monday. The incident, which authorities discovered on the outskirts of Sydney in January, was falsely designed to appear as a foiled mass casualty event.
Law enforcement agencies revealed during a news briefing that the trailer’s placement was a criminal scheme. The criminals aimed to gain personal benefits by falsely alerting authorities to its presence. This orchestrated deception emerged amidst a wave of antisemitic activities in Australia, including the vandalizing of Jewish sites and institutions.
The series of antisemitic crimes targeted Jewish homes, workplaces, and educational spaces, notably including the firebombing of a synagogue and daycare center. These attacks are believed to have been perpetrated by a small group, possibly even a single individual, as explained by David Hudson, Deputy Police Commissioner of New South Wales.
Back in January, authorities made a noteworthy statement clarifying that none of the 12 individuals arrested in connection with these crimes were motivated by antisemitic ideology but were instead involved as mercenaries for criminal causes. An additional 14 arrests made Monday also lack any ideological motivation, Hudson reported.
While confirming the trailer presented no real explosive threat due to its lack of a detonator, the police maintained secrecy about their suspicions until now. Australian federal police deputy commissioner, Krissy Barrett, conveyed that the trailer’s presentation was intended to mimic a terrorist threat as part of a larger con job.
Barrett elaborated on the intended outcome of this criminal plot. The perpetrators planned to leverage a fabricated attack against Jewish Australians to draw attention and benefit from police resources. The investigators suspect the intention was also to manipulate law enforcement for leniency in unrelated legal situations.
Authorities suspect overseas influences in orchestrating these schemes but maintain uncertainty over identifying the specific local criminal elements involved. Barrett noted the trend of criminals participating in a ‘gig economy’, executing tasks for payment without understanding the significant impact of their actions.
Reflecting on a tumultuous period for Jewish Australians, the authorities stressed the ironic comfort in the fact that these distressing acts were not underpinned by deep-seated hatred. However, such crimes have left a substantial impact, creating a palpable tension within the Jewish community and fostering mistrust among other groups, Barrett stated.
While these recent high-profile cases draw focus, police continue to investigate numerous other incidents connected to rising antisemitic sentiments. Since October 2023, nearly 200 individuals have faced charges related to antisemitic crimes in New South Wales, where Sydney is situated.
