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Bomb scare: Queens Park man to face court accused of detonating makeshift explosive in Leederville

Shannon Hampton and Daryna ZadvirnaThe West Australian
A homemade bomb was detonated near two busy restaurants in Leederville Thursday.
Camera IconA homemade bomb was detonated near two busy restaurants in Leederville Thursday. Credit: Night News

Police have charged a 29-year-old man they say detonated a homemade bomb near two busy Leederville restaurants just hours before he allegedly sparked another scare with a second crude explosive device.

The man, who was refused police bail, is due to front Perth Magistrates Court on Friday charged with unlawfully causing an explosive device to explode and making or possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances.

A homemade bomb was detonated near two busy resturants in Leederville Thursday night, with a second bomb scare shutting down parts of the city just hours later.
Camera IconA homemade bomb was detonated near two busy resturants in Leederville Thursday night, with a second bomb scare shutting down parts of the city just hours later. Credit: Night News/supplied

Police say the first makeshift bomb was placed between Zambrero Mexican restaurant and Fibber McGee’s Irish pub when it exploded about 1.30pm.

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The explosion caused shrapnel and debris to cover a distance of about 10m, however fortunately nobody was injured.

The explosive concoction did not cause any damage to the premises, however local businesses described the noise it created as “a bomb going off”.

It is understood the alleged perpetrator used sparklers and other items in the makeshift bomb.

“It was pretty loud - sounded like a large bowling ball crashing on the ground,” one staff member from a nearby venue said.

A homemade bomb was detonated near two busy resturants in Leederville Thursday night, with a second bomb scare shutting down parts of the city just hours later.
Camera IconA homemade bomb was detonated near two busy resturants in Leederville Thursday night, with a second bomb scare shutting down parts of the city just hours later. Credit: Night News/supplied

Hours later, about 10.20pm, police were called to the intersection of Wellington Street and King Street in Perth after it was reported a person was in possession of a similar explosive device.

“They had taken the device from a vehicle belonging to a person known to them,” police said.

The area was cordoned off as WA Police’s tactical response group bomb response unit attended and “rendered the item safe”.

“The item was confirmed to be a homemade, makeshift device similar to the one detonated in Leederville earlier in the day,” police said.

An investigation led Perth Detectives to a home in Lansing Street, Queens Park, in the early hours of the morning where a search warrant was executed and the man was arrested.

Police say he was taken into custody without incident before he was charged on Friday morning.

The matter is still under investigation, with Perth Detectives seeking to speak to a member of the public they believe was in the vicinity of the Leederville incident.

It is believed the woman was in the area between 1.30pm and 1.45pm on Thursday and may have information that could assist with the investigation.

The woman is asked to come forward and contact Perth Detectives via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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