The revelation of a potential mass casualty terror attack in Sydney at a hastily convened press conference by NSW Premier Chris Minns and Deputy NSW Police Commissioner Dave Hudson has raised concerns and questions among the public. The Jewish community in particular has been targeted and subjected to escalating antisemitic attacks, including vandalism of places of worship, a firebombing at a childcare centre near a synagogue, and targeted arson attacks on vehicles. The discovery of a caravan containing stolen mining explosives with the address of a Sydney synagogue and the potential to create a 40-meter blast radius has heightened fears within the community.
The lack of transparency and delayed public disclosure of the caravan’s contents and the secret joint-counter terror investigation has drawn criticism from the public. The Jewish community, in particular, will understandably question why the police and the NSW government did not inform the public about the discovery when it was first made 10 days ago. The existence of a joint counter-terrorism team comprising state and Commonwealth agencies, including the Australian Federal Police and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, indicates the seriousness of the situation and the efforts being made to catch the perpetrators.
The discovery of the caravan in Dural, Sydney, several weeks ago and subsequent actions taken by law enforcement agencies have been shrouded in secrecy. A concerned local who took the caravan onto his property and discovered its contents was shocked, prompting the formation of a joint counter-terrorism team with over 100 officers tasked with apprehending those responsible. NSW Premier Chris Minns was briefed on the situation on January 20, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was also informed, though the timeline of when he was briefed remains unclear.
The leaked information that led to the press conference indicates that the police and government did not plan on disclosing the discovery of the caravan or the existence of the counter-terror investigation to the public at that time. The leak forced their hand, prompting a rush to provide details of the situation to the media and public. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has called for transparency from the federal government regarding when they knew about the incident, who is behind it, and what steps were taken to protect the Australian Jewish community. The need for full disclosure of the facts and timely updates on the situation is paramount for instilling public trust and ensuring their safety.