Police in Australia say an explosives-filled trailer that politicians earlier described as an antisemitic terrorism plot and a foiled mass casualty event was staged by criminals in a complicated hoax

At first glance, when police discovered a camper vehicle packed with explosives and containing a list of Jewish targets near Sydney, Australia on Jan. 19, it appeared that they had foiled an unprecedented antisemitic terror plot.

A fake plan to attack on a Sydney synagogue using a caravan of explosives was fabricated by an organized crime network in order to divert police resources, Australian police said on Monday.

Police say the explosives plot was a scheme by organized criminals to create fear and mislead law enforcement.