Key Takeaways
- A 31-year-old man from Perth’s north has been charged with making an improvised explosive and hurling it into a crowd at an Invasion Day rally in Perth’s CBD.
- The Western Australia Joint Counter Terrorism Team is investigating the incident as a potential terrorist act.
- The incident has sparked concerns about the rise of far-right extremism and racism in Australia, with calls for a royal commission into antisemitism to be expanded to target all forms of racism.
- The man’s identity has been suppressed to protect his safety, and police are investigating whether he had come to their attention previously.
- The incident has raised questions about the police response to the alleged attempted bombing, with some critics arguing that they did not do enough to communicate with the public and prevent panic.
Introduction to the Incident
A bomb scare at an Invasion Day rally in Perth’s CBD on Monday has led to a joint counter-terrorism team investigating the incident as a potential terrorist act. A 31-year-old man from Perth’s north, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with making an improvised explosive and hurling it into the crowd at the rally. The incident has sparked concerns about the rise of far-right extremism and racism in Australia, with calls for a royal commission into antisemitism to be expanded to target all forms of racism.
Investigation and Charges
The Western Australia Joint Counter Terrorism Team, comprising WA Police, Australian Federal Police, and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, has confirmed that it is investigating the incident as a potential terrorist act. The team is working to determine the man’s motivations and whether the incident was a targeted act of hate. The man has been charged with intent to cause harm and making an explosive device with suspicious intentions, and further charges have not been ruled out. The investigation is ongoing, and police are currently investigating whether the man had come to their or federal authorities’ attention previously.
Police Response to the Incident
The police response to the alleged attempted bombing has been criticized by some, with allegations that they did not do enough to communicate with the public and prevent panic. However, a WA Police spokesperson has defended the actions of officers, saying that they were placed in a difficult position and had to prioritize public safety. The spokesperson stated that the decision to evacuate Forrest Place during the Invasion Day rally was made in response to a potential mass casualty threat, and that officers had to balance the need to evacuate with the need to prevent panic.
Rise of Far-Right Extremism and Racism
The incident has sparked concerns about the rise of far-right extremism and racism in Australia, with calls for a royal commission into antisemitism to be expanded to target all forms of racism. Rally organizer Fabian Yarran has called for the royal commission to be expanded, citing the need to address the growing threat of far-right extremism. National anti-racist organisation Democracy in Colour national director Noura Mansour has also spoken out, saying that the incident should be treated as a hate crime and not downplayed as a simple criminal matter.
Concerns about Police Handling of the Incident
There are concerns that the police handling of the incident may have been inadequate, with some critics arguing that they did not do enough to communicate with the public and prevent panic. WA Defence Issues Minister Paul Papalia has defended the police response, saying that they handled the tense situation well. However, Australian National University terrorism researcher Dr. Michael Zekulin has said that the decision to call something an "act of terror" would ultimately come when investigators were able to determine the man’s main alleged motivation.
Suppression of the Man’s Identity
The man’s identity has been suppressed to protect his safety, with his duty lawyer arguing that he would be at risk both in prison and in the community if his name was known. The court has agreed to suppress the man’s identity, citing concerns for his safety and the safety of his family. The suppression of the man’s identity has sparked debate about the need to balance the public’s right to know with the need to protect the safety of individuals involved in the incident.
Conclusion
The bomb scare at the Invasion Day rally in Perth’s CBD has sparked concerns about the rise of far-right extremism and racism in Australia, and has raised questions about the police response to the alleged attempted bombing. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and it is unclear at this stage what motivated the man to allegedly throw the explosive device. However, one thing is clear: the incident has highlighted the need for a more comprehensive approach to addressing the growing threat of far-right extremism and racism in Australia.
