Sydney authorities are studying whether the explosives discovered in a caravan were intended for an anti -Semitic attack.
The explosives could have caused an explosion 40 meters wide and “significant damage,” the police said on Wednesday, adding that the threat was contained.
A note was found in the caravan displayed anti -Semitic messages, the investigators said.
“This is the discovery of a potential event of mass victims,” said Prime Minister of South South, Chris Minns.
Southern New Wales Police Commissioner David Hudson told a press conference that the caravan was discovered on January 19 in Dural, a suburb of northwestern Sydney.
The investigation became public on Wednesday after details were disclosed to the media.
There was “a certain indication that the explosives could be used in a form of anti -Semitic attack,” said Hudson, but he would not be attracted to the possible objective.
He said that the police had “attenuated the risk as much as possible” but stressed: “I am not saying that it was eliminated. I say it was attenuated.”
“This is one of the reasons why we are talking about today, for public members to be vigilant in relation to what they see and what they hear in relation to anti -Semitism in our community.”
An investigation involving Australian federal police has been launched.
Prime Minister Chris Minns described the incident as “terrorism”.
“It would make terror in the community, in particular the Jewish community, and it must be welcomed with all the government’s resources.”
It has not yet been appointed a terrorist incident, the Prime Minister confirmed.
The discovery has followed a series of anti -Semitic attacks in Australia in recent months.
In December, the faithful were forced to flee while the Adass Israel synagogue of Melbourne was burned.
Earlier this month, a daycare center in Sydney was lit and sprayed with anti-Semitic graffiti.
