Terror Charge Filed After Bomb Thrown at Indigenous Rights Rally in Perth

Australian authorities have charged a 31‑year‑old man with a terrorism offence after he allegedly hurled a homemade explosive device into a crowd at an Indigenous rights protest in Perth, marking the first time such a charge has been laid in Western Australia.

Attempted Bombing at Invasion Day Rally

The incident occurred on January 26 during an Invasion Day rally in Perth’s Central Business District, where several thousand people had gathered to advocate for Indigenous rights and highlight the historical dispossession of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Police say the suspect removed a homemade improvised explosive device from his bag and threw it into the crowd. The device, packed with ball bearings and screws, failed to detonate, preventing what authorities described as a potential “mass casualty event.”

No injuries were reported, but investigators confirmed the device was volatile and capable of causing severe harm had it exploded. Bomb response officers later determined it contained chemicals and materials consistent with homemade explosives.

Authorities Declare the Attack an Act of Terror

The Western Australia Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) announced that the act met the criteria for terrorism under the Commonwealth Criminal Code, citing the threat to public safety, the ideological motivation, and the intent to intimidate a specific section of the population.

Premier Roger Cook said the charge alleges the attack was driven by “hateful, racist ideology” targeting Aboriginal people and peaceful protesters. “This is the first time this charge has been laid in Western Australia,” he noted.

Investigators also stated the man appeared to be self‑radicalised and had accessed extremist pro‑white material online. Police said they had no prior intelligence indicating an imminent threat.

If convicted, the accused faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. He remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on February 17.

National Leaders Condemn the Attack

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attempted bombing as an act “driven by racism and hatred,” emphasising that the intended consequences “would have been horrific — death, injury, trauma beyond imagining.” He affirmed that First Nations Australians “must be able to gather peacefully without fearing for our safety.”

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley echoed the sentiment, urging Australians to “nurture peaceful civil debate” and reject violence as a means of political expression.

Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy described the attack as an assault on social cohesion, stating that “an attack on First Nations Australians is an attack on all Australians.”

Community Reaction and Calls for Stronger Action

Indigenous leaders and human rights groups have called for a more robust response to racially motivated violence. Hannah McGlade, a Noongar community member and legal scholar, said the attack caused “absolute horror” among Indigenous people and urged authorities to treat it as a hate‑motivated terror crime.

The Human Rights Law Centre also demanded a full investigation into police handling of the incident, including reports of credible threats received before the rally.

Context: Rising Concerns Over Racism and Safety

The attack occurred amid ongoing national conversations about racism and the safety of Indigenous Australians. Recent years have seen heightened scrutiny of racially motivated violence, including the 2022 killing of 15‑year‑old Noongar boy Cassius Turvey, which sparked widespread calls for systemic reform.

Invasion Day rallies, held annually on January 26, continue to draw large crowds advocating for justice, recognition, and the re‑examination of Australia’s colonial legacy.