Perth invasion day rally rocked by alleged bomb attack

A 31‑year‑old man has been charged after an alleged homemade explosive device was thrown at an Invasion Day rally in Perth’s CBD, forcing the event to be shut down but causing no physical injuries.

Western Australia Police say the man, from the northern suburb of Warwick, allegedly removed an item from his bag and threw it towards the stage area at Forrest Place just after midday on 26 January, while thousands of people were gathered to mark Invasion Day.

Specialist officers later described the object as an improvised device containing screws and ball bearings wrapped around a glass container with liquid. It did not detonate and was made safe by the bomb response unit.

Police have charged the man with one count of committing an unlawful act or omission with intent to harm – endangering life, health, or safety – and one count of making or possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances. He did not apply for bail when he faced Perth Magistrates Court and the matter was adjourned.

Noongar elder Herbert Bropho was speaking on stage when the device landed nearby. He later told media it was “terrifying” but said people “stood their ground” while organisers and police moved the crowd to safety.’

“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 Guardian Australia.

An RNZ account of the incident described chaotic scenes as officers cleared Forrest Place and searched nearby buildings. One attendee said it was only afterwards that she realised “something could have happened” to her and others standing close to the stage.

The incident occurred as tens of thousands marched in cities around the country to protest the ongoing impacts of colonisation and call for justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese later said those responsible should face the “full force of the law”, while emphasising the importance of respecting peaceful protest.

For many First Nations families who travel to larger cities to join Invasion Day events – the scare has underscored both ongoing tensions and the determination to keep marching for change.