EXCLUSIVE
An unemployed mother-of-three accused of being ‘on the periphery’ of an investigation into an anti-Semitic caravan terror plot may have been coerced into joining a criminal group, a family member has claimed.
Tammie Farrugia, 34, was arrested last month after an alleged arson and graffiti attack in Woollahra, in Sydney’s east, on December 11. She was charged with a series of offences and refused bail.
Now Farrugia and her boyfriend Scott Marshall are ‘on the periphery’ of a police investigation into a possible anti-Semitic terror plot, after revelations a caravan packed with Powergel explosives was discovered in Dural, in Sydney’s north-west, on January 19.
Law enforcement officials feared the caravan – discovered by a local resident by accident – could have been used by persons unknown in a ‘mass casualty event’ against Jewish sites in Sydney.
Farrugia and Marshall’s names were allegedly on a search warrant used by police investigating the explosives last month. However, neither have been charged with being part of a terror plot.
Farrugia’s family has rallied around to support her – claiming the housing commission tenant is a victim of ‘foul play.’
‘I do believe it was foul play and she was pushed into what has occurred,’ her cousin Tim told Daily Mail Australia.
The family of Tammie Farrugia (pictured) have broken their silence to defend her
Police confirmed that the arrests of Tammie Farrugia and her boyfriend Scott Marshall were made ‘on the periphery’ of the case. The pair have not been charged in relation to the caravan found stashed with explosives
Pictured is a Facebook post Tammie Farrugia allegedly uploaded on December 6
‘There’s more involved than just her in this. I believe she might have been in some sort of financial situation.
‘She’s found herself in the company of people she didn’t know like she thought she’s did
‘And she just the one who got caught up in on it all. By being around the wrong crowd.’
The abandoned caravan was found by a local resident on the side of a semi-rural earlier this month.
The resident – who feared the caravan could cause an accident – eventually towed it onto their property and notified the authorities.
Police later discovered mining explosives and a note with the addresses of Sydney synagogues and other Jewish buildings as well as a note that read ‘f**k the Jews’.
On Thursday, police confirmed that the arrests of Farrugia and Marshall were made ‘on the periphery’ of the case.
Farrugia was already in custody for her alleged involvement in an anti-Semitic vandalism attack that caused $20,000 worth of damage in the affluent suburb of Woollahra in Sydney’s east on December 11.
It’s alleged a car was torched and two buildings and a footpath were vandalised with graffiti– including a ‘Kill Israiel’ (sic) message scrawled on the wall of one home.
The day before the attack on December 10, Farrugia had allegedly posted on multiple local groups asking to purchase jerry cans, which police allege were used to torch a stolen car the following day.
On December 6 she also allegedly posted: ‘Looking for a caravan for sale hit me up if U have one cheers’.
On December 10, Farrugia posted on multiple local groups asking to purchase jerry cans, which police allege were used to torch a stolen car the following day
A caravan filled with explosives and a note with the addresses of Jewish people was found at a property (pictured) in Sydney’s north-west earlier this month
Tim said of Farrugia: ‘She’s had a pretty rough trot from a young age. We all did, it’s just the ways it was back our younger days.
‘Tammie of all people knows to show mutual respect to all nationalities, no matter colour or race or background they come from.
‘Something has led to her terrible (alleged) behaviour because I know Tammie, she’s not a racist person.
As of Thursday night, neither Farrugia or Marshall have been charged over the caravan terrorism investigation.
Tim said he wanted to see his cousin released from custody, despite the allegations.
‘Yes she has a history of drugs, yes was drug affected and high, not in her right mind as it was and she was easily mislead to such things,’ he said.
‘Deep down she is harmless.’
