Land Forces protester had dozens of homemade explosives, bombed a toilet cubicle at expo

A Melbourne woman could face a stint behind bars after using a homemade explosive device to set fire to a toilet inside the 2024 Land Forces expo.

Malith Shamera Fernando, 25, of Blackburn faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where it was revealed she had visited the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on the first day of the defence exhibition to scope out the facility before returning the following day to plant an explosive device on September 12, 2024. Fernando has pleaded guilty to all charges.

Protesters outside the Land Forces expo in Melbourne in September 2024.Credit: AAPIMAGE

The court heard that Fernando, an engineer, attended the exhibition centre with a legitimate ticket and visited the area for 40 minutes. The following day she arrived at 12.47pm, scanned her ticket and walked into the male toilets.

Shortly before 1.15pm, a homemade incendiary device detonated in the middle toilet cubicle, causing a small fire, which self-extinguished.

Two attendees were in other toilet cubicles at the time of the explosion. The damage bill associated with the targeted attack was $4600.

A search of Fernando’s home uncovered cannabis, ketamine and 28 other homemade incendiary devices in a bag at the end of her bed and in a cardboard box in her bathroom.

Malith Shamera Fernando pleaded guilty over the incident.

Protest ideology, including a post with the words “At free Palestine Melbourne, and disrupt Melbourne” attached, was found on a laptop at the property.

Fernand’s qualification as an engineer enabled her to buy a ticket to the event.

One of the men who was in the toilet at the time of the incident wrote a victim impact statement, telling the court the explosion and smoke generated still made him feel anxious.

“To this day when I attend conferences and public events and see police vehicles at [the] entrance, I consider if we’re safe,” the man wrote.

Fernando’s lawyer said his client was remorseful. He said she had undergone a great deal of hardship in her life.

The lawyer said she was a productive member of the community, helping marginalised members of the community learn how to drive outside of her normal job.

Fernando is transgender and experienced “heart-wrenching” mental illness.

“Ms Fernando made a terrible error in judgment and she regrets it. She’s taken responsibility for it,” her lawyer said.

Fernando pleaded guilty to criminal damage, possessing items with a purpose to use them to destroy or damage property, trafficking cannabis, possessing ketamine and possessing 1,4-Butanediol, an industrial solvent and recreational drug.

The prosecution called for Fernando to be jailed, telling the court general deterrents were paramount in this case.

Magistrate Donna Bakos will sentence the 25-year-old on December 3.

The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.

Most Viewed in National

Loading