Albanese says he knew Dural caravan plot was possible hoax ‘very early on’

Albanese insisted while the incident was revealed as hoax, the fear felt by the community, particularly those in the Jewish community, was ‘very real’. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AP

Anthony Albanese says he was told “very early on” that investigators believed the Dural caravan plot was a “hoax” as both major parties point the finger over whether their decisions to quickly label the saga terrorism was appropriate.

The Australian federal police revealed on Monday the caravan incident was allegedly concocted by criminals who wanted to cause fear for personal gain – not inflict a “mass casualty event” in Sydney.