Perth Man Faces Serious Charges Following Alleged Bomb Incident at Invasion Day Rally
Western Australia police have formally charged a 31-year-old man from the northern Perth suburb of Warwick with committing a life-threatening act, following an alarming incident at an Invasion Day rally in the city centre. The charges stem from an alleged improvised explosive device being thrown towards the stage during the protest gathering.
Terrifying Moment as Alleged Device Lands on Stage
Prominent Noongar elder Herbert Bropho was addressing the crowd at Forrest Place when the disturbing incident unfolded. Bropho described the moment as "terrifying" and recounted how a police officer quickly began instructing people to move back from the stage area after inspecting the suspicious item.
"But they didn't explain to people why – I told the people, you've got to bloody fucking move because they found a device," Bropho told media outlets. He emphasised that despite the frightening circumstances, rally attendees "stood their ground and wanted to continue the protest."
Police Response and Detailed Charges
In an official statement released on Tuesday, Western Australia police outlined the specific charges against the 31-year-old suspect. He faces one count of committing an unlawful act or omission with intent to harm, specifically endangering the life, health or safety of any person. Additionally, he has been charged with one count of making or possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances.
The police statement provided detailed allegations about the incident, claiming the man was present at the Forrest Place rally around 12:15pm on Monday when he "removed an item from his bag and threw it into the crowd from a first-floor walkway before fleeing the scene."
Device Description and Subsequent Investigation
Specialist officers from the WA Police Bomb Response Unit, along with forensic experts, attended the scene to examine the suspicious item. Their analysis confirmed it was a homemade improvised explosive device containing a mixture of volatile and potentially explosive chemicals. Disturbingly, the device had nails and metal ball bearings affixed to its exterior.
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch later revealed to media that the device was designed to explode on impact but failed due to a malfunctioning fuse. Following the suspect's apprehension, police conducted a search of his home where they allegedly discovered "a combination of chemicals and materials consistent with the manufacture of homemade explosives."
Community Impact and Rally Continuation
Approximately 2,500 people were attending the rally when the incident occurred, according to police estimates. Bropho emphasised that the gathering had been a "peaceful protest, trying to raise our issues like stealing of land and the closing of the detention centre." Despite the frightening interruption, participants decided to continue their march to demonstrate they would not be intimidated.
Other attendees described initial confusion as police intervened. Jade Cameron, who was present at the march, noted there was "chaos" as people didn't immediately understand why speeches had been halted. "They tried to get the elders and everyone from going into Forrest Chase [shopping centre] but we didn't know why," Cameron explained.
Long-term Psychological Impact
Bropho, who has been attending protests since childhood, expressed concern about the lasting psychological impact of the incident. The 50-year-old elder stated he would continue protesting but acknowledged the event would remain with him and others in the community.
"I'm gonna still have that in my head when we go to the next Invasion Day rally. It's going to be embedded in our minds now," Bropho reflected, highlighting how such traumatic events can affect future participation in public demonstrations.
The accused man was denied bail and appeared in court on the same day as his arrest, with the legal process now underway as authorities continue their investigation into this serious security breach at a public gathering.
