Accused bomb-maker appears in Perth court after Invasion Day rally scare

A Perth man has appeared in court accused of making a homemade bomb and throwing it into a crowd of protesters at an Invasion Day rally in the CBD on Monday.

Thousands of people were preparing to march from Forrest Place to oppose the date of Australia Day when an object the size of a coffee mug was hurled into the crowd from a terrace balcony about 12.30pm.

The incident was immediately reported to police, who evacuated the area, with protesters beginning their march towards the Swan River, most seemingly unaware or confused about what had sparked the sudden move-on directions.

Video footage released by police showed the man throw the device from the first floor of a Forrest Place building and attempt to run, but he was arrested a short time later.

Body camera footage from police involved in his arrest shows the man wearing a shirt by an Indigenous artist.

WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said officers had since examined the object the man allegedly threw and determined it was potentially a homemade explosive.

“The device that was located just in front of the stage area contained ball bearings, contained screws, and those items were wrapped around an unknown … liquid in a glass container,” he said.

It did not detonate, but WA Police Minister Reece Whitby said the incident could have been disastrous.

“The incident … had the potential to be a mass casualty event,” he said.

“What happened today in Forrest Place was absolutely un-Australian.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he hoped the accused man “had the book thrown at him”.

“This incident is quite shocking and he has been charged with two serious offences, and I look forward to him being prosecuted to the full force of the law,” he said.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with intent to cause harm and making an explosive device with suspicious intentions.

Tactical response group offices and investigators from the state security unit were at the accused man’s house on Monday.

Forensic officers were later seen removing items from the residence and pouring chemicals out of bottles into large drums.

Blanch alleged overnight testing of the liquid in the Australia Day device had confirmed it was a homemade explosive.

“We can say at this time with preliminary testing, the liquid was an explosive liquid, in fact there were multiple compounds,” he told Radio 6PR.

“We will allege that that device was designed to explode upon impact, but for reasons not yet known, it didn’t.”

Blanch said police were also currently investigating whether the allegation should be classified as an act of terror.

Blanch thanked bystanders who allegedly saw the man ignite a fuse and throw the object into the crowd, and immediately alerted nearby police who were also on the upper level terrace.

Police believe the accused man acted alone and that there was no ongoing risk to the community.