Australian officials evacuated Perth's city square after a man threw a suspicious object believed to be a bomb into a crowd gathered for a rally. The man was arrested, and no explosion occurred.
On Monday, 26 January 2026, Australian police reported that a man was arrested after throwing an object suspected of possibly containing a bomb into a crowd at a pedestrian area in Perth, Western Australia, prompting authorities to evacuate the market area.
The incident occurred at approximately 12:30 p.m. local time at Forrest Place, a pedestrian square in Perth, where thousands had gathered to support Indigenous rights. The event also coincided with Australia Day, the national public holiday.
The 31-year-old man was detained at the scene and remains in custody under police supervision. Authorities confirmed the object did not explode, and no injuries were reported.
This incident happened less than two months after an attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney targeting a Jewish festival, which resulted in 15 fatalities.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing a man throw the object toward the front of the stage during speeches at the "Invasion Day" rally.
Western Australia Police Commissioner Cal Blance told the media the device did not explode but contained steel balls and screws wrapped around a glass container holding an unknown liquid, which forensic experts are currently analyzing.
Australia Day, observed on 26 January, commemorates the landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788 (CE 1788) and marks the start of colonization. Many Indigenous Australians and supporters refer to it as "Invasion Day."
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Source:BBC