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February 5, 2026 — 1:17pm
A Perth man accused of throwing a homemade bomb into a crowd of Invasion Day protesters was allegedly motivated by racism, hatred and “pro-white” ideologies, as authorities formally declare the incident an act of terror.
The 31-year-old man, who cannot be identified due to a suppression order, was allegedly captured on camera hurling the explosive into a crowd of around 2500 people gathered in Perth’s CBD on January 26 to protest the date of Australia Day.
The device, which WA Police claim was designed to explode on impact, failed to detonate and triggered police to evacuate the event.
The incident was not immediately classified as a terror act, with authorities taking time to investigate the accused man’s motive behind the alleged attack.
On Thursday, WA Premier Roger Cook, flanked by Western Australian Police, Australian Federal Police, and Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy, announced the declaration.
“I can confirm today, the WA joint counterterrorism team comprising WA Police, the Australian Federal Police and ASIO, have determined the incident last Monday in Perth, should be charged as a terrorist act as a result, a 31-year-old man has been charged with one count of engaging in a terrorist act,” he said.
“This is the first time this charge has been laid in Western Australia.
“This charge ... alleges the attack on Aboriginal people and other peaceful protesters was motivated by hateful, racist ideology.”
The new charge carries a maximum penalty of life behind bars.
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said the man’s internet history revealed he had ‘self-radicalised’ online, and accessed “pro-white material”.
The decision comes after rally organisers and politicians urged authorities to further investigate the incident as potential terrorism, warning the incident could have been a “mass casualty” event and appeared to be a calculated attempt to harm First Nations people and their supporters.
A motion was also passed in the Senate last week to condemn the attempted bombing, with Senator Lidia Thorpe labelling the incident “an act of horrific, overt hate and racism”.
Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy called the incident “an attempted bombing of a peaceful, First Nations rally, led by First Nations, Australians and their allies”.
“When our social cohesion is attacked, all of us in this chamber, the government, the opposition, the cross bench, must apply consistent focus and condemnation.
“Leaders, words carry meaning, and our government will not be silent. The Albanese government condemns this sickening and abhorrent.”
It is the second terror act investigated by WA police in as many years, after a teenage boy was shot by police when he stabbed a stranger in a car park in Willeton in 2024.
His final text messages said he was “going in the path of Jihad”, and claimed he was a soldier for the Mujahideen of Al-qaeda, and Cook said it was believed the teen was radicalised online via international groups.
About five months later, WA police deemed the incident should be classified as an act of terror.
More to come.
