An organised crime syndicate is allegedly behind Sydney's "summer of hateful and vicious" anti-Semitic attacks as investigators allege they were motivated by personal gain and not racial hate.
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A "fake terrorism plot" in Dural, an arson attack on a childcare centre in Maroubra and offensive graffiti spray-painted around the NSW capital were among the crimes allegedly "concocted by criminals who wanted to cause fear for personal benefit", AFP Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett said.
Police said the ringleaders, living in Australia and internationally, had not yet been arrested but 14 people who were connected to the string of attacks had been charged on March 10.
"None of the individuals we've arrested during [Strike Force] Pearl have displayed any form of anti-Semitic ideology," NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson said.
"However, the threat to the community through the use of arson and the presence of explosives was very real," he said.
Strike Force Pearl was launched at the end of 2024 to investigate religiously motivated arson attacks and offensive graffiti across Sydney's eastern suburbs between October 2024 and February 2025.
Police said "unwarranted suspicion was directed at other communities" as a result of the attacks.
NSW Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley thanked investigators for "dogged, round-the-clock police work" in a joint statement.
"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," the statement said.
'Criminal con job' in Dural
A caravan, packed with industrial explosives and anti-Semitic material, was left beside a property in Dural in northwest Sydney for 12 days, police said.
It was discovered by a member of the public on January 19 and a major investigation was launched.
The suspected terror plot, using 40-year-old explosives, was discovered to be a "criminal con job", Deputy Commissioner Barrett said.
Tip-offs received by police were allegedly fabricated and the plot was found to be an "elaborate scheme contrived by organised criminals domestically and offshore", she said.
"Almost immediately, experienced investigators within the joint counter-terrorism team believed that the caravan was part of a fabricated terrorist plot, essentially a criminal con job," Deputy Commissioner Barrett 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," she said.
"Also, there was no detonator.
"Today I can reveal that 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."
Charges laid after raids
Police arrested and charged 14 people after simultaneous raids were conducted in Sydney on March 10 under Strike Force Pearl.
A 31-year-old man was arrested at a Camperdown unit. Police will allege that he was involved in the preparation and staging of vehicles and "provisioning them with equipment necessary for the commission of the offences".
He was charged with knowingly directing activities of a criminal group, five counts of accessory before the fact to malicious damage in company, damaging property in company using fire, two counts of destroying property in company using fire and breaking and entering in company to destroy property.
An 18-year-old man from San Remo and a 20-year-old man from Canton Beach were arrested on the Central Coast
Police will allege in court the two men were involved in providing vehicles that were used during the arson attack on a childcare centre on Storey Street at Maroubra on January 21.
They were charged with participating in a criminal group - contributing to criminal activity. The younger man was also charged with possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit.
A 33-year-old man was arrested at a Wentworthville unit. Police will allege in court that the man spray-painted graffiti on cars and properties in King Lane, Randwick and See Lane, Kingsford on February 2.
He was charged with two counts of intentionally damaging property in company, larceny and driving whilst disqualified. He was also charged with contravening and ADVO and an outstanding warrant for traffic offences was executed.
A 25-year-old man was arrested at a Box Hill home. Police will allege in court that the man spray-painted graffiti on cars and homes on Henry Street, Queens Park on January 11.
He was charged with participating in a criminal group, damaging property intend criminal activity of group and being carried in conveyance.
Two men, aged 40 and 30, were arrested at a home in Penshurst. The 40-year-old allegedly spray-painted graffiti at a home and a school at Maroubra, a shopping centre at Eastgardens and a home at Eastlakes.
He was charged with driving a motor vehicle during the disqualification period, taking and driving conveyance without the consent of the owner, participating in a criminal group contributing criminal, failing to comply with digital evidence access order directions, giving false etc info about the digital evidence access order, and hindering or resist police officer in the execution of duty.
The 30-year-old was charged for allegedly having an electronic stun device and steroids at his home.
A 26-year-old man was arrested at Wentworth Point and charged over two seized mobile phones and cash.
He was charged with possessing prohibited drugs, dealing with the proceeds of crime, possessing DECCD to commit etc. serious criminal activity and failing to comply with digital evidence access order directions.
Two men, aged 23 and 37, were arrested at Riverstone Police Station after being transferred from a correctional facility.
The 23-year-old allegedly spray-painted graffiti on cars and homes on Henry Street, Queens Park, on January 11.
He was charged with participating in a criminal group, contributing to criminal activity, destroying/damaging property, conducting criminal activity of group driving conveyance taken without consent of the owner, supplying prohibited drugs - indictable and possessing prohibited drugs.
The 37-year-old was charged after police allegedly found a gun during a storage facility search.
He was charged with additional offences of accessory before the fact to damaging property by means of fire or explosion - over his involvement in the arson attack on a childcare centre at Maroubra - and possessing an unregistered firearm.
A 34-year-old man and a 41-year-old man were arrested after being transferred from a correctional facility.
The younger man allegedly directed arson attacks at Bondi Beach. He was charged with knowingly directing activities of a criminal group, accessory before the fact to destroy property in company using fire and accessory before the fact to damage property by fire or explosion.
The older man allegedly broke into a business on Curlewis Street on October 20 and set it alight. He was charged with destroying or damaging property.
A 26-year-old woman was arrested at Sutherland after methylamphetamine and prescription medications were allegedly found during a search of a car.
She was charged with participating in a criminal group, supplying a prohibited drug - indictable quantity, four counts of possessing a prescribed restricted substance and five counts of possessing a prohibited drug.
A 27-year-old woman was arrested at an Eastlakes unit. Cannabis, methylamphetamine, prescription medication and an electronic stun device were allegedly seized during a search.
She was charged with three counts of possessing prohibited drugs, two counts of possessing or attempting to prescribed restricted substances, and possessing or using a prohibited weapon. An outstanding warrant was also executed.
Detectives have now arrested a total of 29 people and laid 143 charges under Strike Force Pearl.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anna Houlahan
Anna Houlahan is a journalist for the Courier, dedicated to uncovering the stories that shape the city. Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au
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