14 people arrested and charged - Strike Force Pearl
Tuesday, 11 March 2025 07:50:32 AM
Fourteen people have been arrested and charged with 65 offences following investigations into antisemitic incidents across Sydney’s east.
Strike Force Pearl was established in December 2024 by officers attached to the Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Command – with support provided by Central Metropolitan Region, State Crime Command and State Intelligence Command – to investigate religious motivated arson attacks and offensive graffiti across the Eastern Suburbs between October 2024 and February 2025.
Following inquiries, Strike Force Pearl investigators executed 11 simultaneous search warrants and three firearm prohibition orders – with assistance at five premises from the Australian Federal Police – across Sydney yesterday (Monday 10 March 2025), arresting 14 people.
The 14 arrested have now been charged as follows,
* A 31-year-old man was arrested at a Camperdown unit and taken to Newtown Police Station where he was charged with knowingly direct activities of criminal group, five counts of accessory before the fact to malicious damage in company, damage property in company use fire, two counts of destroy property in company use fire and break and enter in company destroy property.
Police will allege in court the man was involved in the preparation and staging of motor vehicles and provisioning them with equipment necessary for the commission of the offences.
He appeared at Newtown Local Court the same day where he was formally refused bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday 3 April 2025.
* Two men were arrested on the Central Coast – an 18-year-old from San Remo and a 20-year from Canton Beach – and taken to Wyong Police Station where they were charged with participate criminal group – contribute criminal activity. The younger man was also charged with possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit.
Police will allege in court the two men were involved in providing vehicles which were used during the arson attack on a childcare centre on Storey Street at Maroubra on 21 January 2025. Damage worth an estimated $3.4m was sustained.
Both men appeared in Wyong Local Court the same day where they were granted conditional bail to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday 26 March 2025.
* A 33-year-old man was arrested at a Wentworthville unit and taken to Granville Police Station where he was charged with two counts of intentionally damage property in company, larceny and drive whilst disqualified. He was also charged with contravene ADVO and an outstanding warrant for traffic offences was executed.
Police will allege in court that the man attended King Lane, Randwick and See Lane, Kingsford on Sunday 2 February 2025, and spray-painted graffiti on motor vehicles and properties.
He appeared at Parramatta Local Court the same day where he was formally refused bail to appear at the same court on Thursday (13 March 2025).
* A 25-year-old man was arrested at a Box Hill home and taken to Riverstone Police Station where he was charged with participate criminal group, damage property intend criminal activity of group and being carried in conveyance.
Police will allege in court that the man attended Henry Street, Queens Park on Saturday 11 January 2025, and spray-painted graffiti on motor vehicles and properties.
He appeared in Blacktown Local Court the same day where he was formally refused bail to appear at Waverley Local Court on Tuesday 25 March 2025.
* Two men, aged 40 and 30, were arrested at a Penshurst home and taken to Kogarah Police Station. The older man was charged with drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, participate criminal group contribute criminal, fail to comply digital evidence access order direction, give false etc info re digital evidence access order, and hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty.
Police will allege in court that the man attended a home and a school at Maroubra, a shopping centre at Eastgardens, and a home at Eastlakes and spray-painted graffiti on the properties.
He appeared at Sutherland Local Court the same day where he was formally refused bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Monday 24 March 2025.
The younger man was charged with possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit and possess prohibited drug.
Police will allege in court that an electronic stun device and steroids were seized during the warrant at the Penshurst property.
He was granted conditional bail to appear at Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday 1 April 2025.
* A 26-year-old man was arrested at Wentworth Point and taken to Auburn Police Station where he was charged with possess prohibited drug, deal with proceeds of crime, possess DECCD to commit etc serious criminal activity and fail to comply digital evidence access order direction.
Police will allege that two mobile phones and cash were seized during a warrant at the Wentworth property.
He was granted conditional bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on Thursday 17 April 2025.
* Two men, aged 23 and 37, were arrested at Riverstone Police Station after being transferred from a correctional facility. The younger man was charged with participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, destroy/damage property intend criminal activity of group¸ drive conveyance taken w/o consent of owner, supply prohibited drug - indictable and possess prohibited drug.
Police will allege in court that the man attended Henry Street, Queens Park on Saturday 11 January 2025, and spray-painted graffiti on motor vehicles and properties.
He was refused bail to appear at Blacktown Local Court today (Tuesday 11 March 2025).
The older man was charged with additional offences of accessory before the fact to damaging property by means of fire or explosion - over his involvement in the arson attack on a childcare centre at Maroubra - and possess unregistered firearm.
Police will allege in court that a firearm was seized during a warrant at a storage facility in January 2025
He was remanded in custody and is due to appear before Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday 3 April 2025.
* Two men, aged 34 and 41, were arrested at Burwood Police Station after being transferred from a correctional facility. The younger man was charged with knowingly direct activities of criminal group, accessory before the fact to destroy property in company use fire, and accessory before the fact to damage property by fire/explosion.
Police will allege in court that the man directed the commission of the arson attacks at Bondi Beach.
He was remanded in custody to appear at Waverley Local Court today (Tuesday 11 March 2025).
The older man was charged with an additional offence of destroy/ damage property intend criminal activity of group.
Police will allege in court that the man attended the Curlewis Street business on Sunday 20 October 2024 and broke into the premises before setting it alight.
He was remanded in custody to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday 27 March 2025.
* A 26-year-old woman was arrested at Sutherland and taken to Sutherland Police Station where she was charged with participate in criminal group, supply prohibited drug – indictable quantity, four counts of possess prescribed restricted substance, and five counts of possess prohibited drug.
Police will allege in court that methylamphetamine and prescription medications were seized during the search of a vehicle at Sutherland and a warrant at a Campbelltown property.
She was refused bail to appear at Sutherland Local Court today (Tuesday 11 March 032025).
* A 27-year-old woman was arrested at an Eastlakes unit and taken to Mascot Police Station where she was charged with three counts of possess prohibited drugs, two counts of possess/attempt to, prescribed restricted substance, and possess or use a prohibited weapon. An outstanding warrant was also executed.
Police will allege in court that cannabis, methylamphetamine, prescription medication and an electronic stun device was seized during the warrant at the Eastlakes property.
She was granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday 10 April 2025.
Strike Force Pearl detectives have now arrested 29 people and laid a total of 143 charges.
Investigations under Strike Force Pearl continue.