NSW man allegedly linked to Dural caravan filled with explosives ‘has nothing to do with it’, brother says | Antisemitism

The brother of a man allegedly connected to a caravan found laden with explosives in Sydney has said his sibling is “just a normal person, he doesn’t hate anyone”.

Scott Marshall, 36, and his partner, Tammie Farrugia, 34, were named on a police search warrant as part of the investigation into the caravan, which police found on 19 January. Neither have been charged in relation to the explosives in the caravan and the Guardian does not suggest any wrongdoing on their part.

Scott’s brother Stewart Marshall told media outside Liverpool local court on Wednesday that Scott “has nothing to do with it, he’s innocent”. Farrugia’s separate and unrelated matter was heard at the court earlier on Wednesday.

The caravan was found in Dural on the outskirts of north-west Sydney laden with Powergel explosives that police estimated were capable of creating a 40-metre blast radius. A note was also found in the caravan containing names of alleged targets, including a Sydney synagogue. No detonator was found.

Scott Marshall is in custody on remand on unrelated drugs and weapons charges which were investigated as part of Strike Force Pearl, the New South Wales police operation dedicated to antisemitism. He has pleaded not guilty and is due before Liverpool local court again on 3 March.

Farrugia is in custody on remand for unrelated matters, an alleged arson and alleged anti-Israel graffiti attack in Woollahra in December. Among the charges, she is accused of participating in a criminal group with at least two others as an accessory before allegedly damaging three homes and a vehicle. Farrugia has not yet entered a plea.

Farrugia’s matter was briefly heard in Liverpool local court on Wednesday. The court heard the NSW director of public prosecutions will be taking over the case from police. The matter has been adjourned to 3 April.

Stewart Marshall told media outside court that Scott had been in custody in isolation and didn’t know about the caravan matter becoming news until several days ago.

“He’s not allowed to talk to anyone or associate with anyone,” Stewart said.

Farrugia is among at least 11 people who have been charged in relation to a spate of antisemitic vandalism and arson attacks in Sydney over the past two months. This has included the graffiti of two separate synagogues and the firebombing of a childcare centre, which was also graffitied with the words: “Fuck the Jews”.