NSW Police discover explosives in caravan in Dural, Sydney: Live updates after assaults on synagogues and Jewish group

The NSW Police and NSW Government’s decision to keep the Jewish community in the dark has been criticised by one of Australia’s leading Jewish organisations.

Peter Wertheim, co-chief executive officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said he was disappointed that the police didn’t inform Jewish groups about the existence of a caravan full of explosives.

“I think they should have told us earlier, before it hit the media, because the impact on the community then could have been managed,” he said.

‘It’s always better to face your fears when you understand what you’re facing, rather than to be presented with something out of the blue.

‘And so whilst there might have been some justification for secrecy in the initial stage of the investigation, I think that time had long passed.’

It is understood the ‘periphery’ arrests were that of Tammie Farrugia, charged last week over an alleged anti-Semitic attack at Woollahra in December.

And the other arrest was Farrugia’s boyfriend Scott Marshall, who was charged late last year with weapons and drug offences to which he has pleaded not guilty.

The couple had posted on Facebook just last month asking to buy a caravan.

On December 6, Tammie Farrugia tagged her boyfriend, Scott Marshall, in a post that read: ‘Looking for a caravan for sale hit me up if U have one cheers’.

The arrests were made in relation to separate incidents, not the caravan – and as of Thursday morning Neither Farrugia or Marshall have been charged. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing.

The caravan’s owner is in police custody after they were arrested previously over other alleged offences.