Sydney man Sayet Erhan Akca key suspect in Dural caravan hoax, sources say

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Sayet Erhan Akca is a key suspect in the Dural caravan hoax, sources have told the ABC. Mr Akca was on bail facing serious drug charges from 2022. He is believed to have fled overseas.

Transcript

00:00Syed Eran Aker, also known as Aaron, is a wanted man who is believed to have fled Australia

00:08more than a year ago.

00:09Now police sources have told ABC News he's a key suspect in the plot to stage a potential

00:15terror attack by filling a caravan with explosives and a note referencing the Great Jewish Synagogue.

00:22Authorities this week announced it was all a hoax orchestrated by organised criminals

00:26along with the recent spate of anti-Semitic attacks across Sydney.

00:30We're looking at a number of targets offshore and looking at how that is interacting with

00:37local organised crime figures for the furthering of these types of plots.

00:42Syed Aker skipped bail after being charged with drug importation offences in 2023.

00:48The 35-year-old previously owned a number of businesses in NSW, including a gym.

00:55He remained on bail awaiting trial and in July 2023 he was allowed to travel to Queensland.

01:01It's then alleged he fled the country and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

01:06As authorities try to pinpoint who has been orchestrating the recent attacks in Sydney,

01:11they revealed this week they don't believe they were motivated by anti-Semitism.

01:16We believe the person pulling the strings wanted changes to their criminal status but

01:21maintained a distance from their scheme and hired alleged local criminals to carry out

01:26parts of their plan.

01:28Before the suspected motive was revealed, the government rushed through controversial

01:32hate speech laws in response to the anti-Semitic attacks.

01:36They're now facing growing criticism for that decision.

01:39Some of that criticism has come from within government ranks.

01:43One Labor backbencher said a number of MPs were ropeable.

01:47Another accused the Premier of deception.

01:49There are two or three individuals who voiced their opinion against these laws in the first place.

01:56I've been in this place for a few years now.

01:59I've never seen a unified caucus in any political party on any issue.

02:03Labor MP Linda Voltz says her Western Sydney constituents are unhappy about the narrow

02:08scope of the new hate speech offence.

02:11It doesn't capture Islamophobia where there have been huge increases amongst my community.

02:17Two peak Muslim bodies have also released a statement accusing the Premier of increasing

02:22fear and Islamophobia with his handling of the incidents.

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