Perth, February 5, 2026 — The Europe Today: Authorities in Western Australia have officially classified an attempted bombing targeting a large protest in Perth in January as an act of terrorism, officials announced on Thursday.
Western Australia Premier Roger Cook stated during a press conference that police investigations determined the attempted attack was motivated by racist and hateful ideology, according to media reports. He confirmed that the suspect, a 31-year-old man, has become the first person in the state’s history to be charged with committing a terrorist act.
The suspect was arrested shortly after a suspected homemade explosive device was thrown into a crowd of thousands gathered in central Perth on January 26. The demonstration, held on Australia Day, was led by Indigenous Australians. At the time of his arrest, the man faced charges of making or possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances and endangering the life, health, and safety of others.
Premier Cook emphasized that further investigation concluded the incident met the legal threshold for a terrorist act. “We must condemn this incident in the strongest possible way,” he said, noting that the attack was fueled by racist and hateful beliefs.
Authorities previously reported that the device contained ball bearings, screws, and an unknown liquid inside a glass container, and was designed to explode upon impact. Premier Cook warned that the device could have caused mass casualties if it had detonated as intended.
Western Australia Police Commissioner Col Blanch added that authorities had no prior intelligence suggesting such an attack was planned.
The case marks a historic first in Western Australia’s legal handling of domestic terrorism and highlights ongoing concerns over racially motivated acts of violence.
