Indigenous community members who witnessed an alleged attempted terror attack at Perth's Invasion Day rally have told a federal inquiry into racism they felt dismissed and ignored by authorities.
Key facts
- An alleged homemade bomb filled with ball bearings and screws was thrown into a crowd of 2,000 people at Forrest Place on 26 January.
- Western Australia police declared the incident a terror attack nine days after it occurred.
- Police were told of unspecified threats before the rally but did not meet with organisers until afterward.
- Perth man Liam Alexander Hall has been charged with terrorism offences and is in custody.
- Hall's lawyers have indicated he intends to plead not guilty by way of insanity.
Indigenous community members who witnessed an alleged attempted terror attack at the Invasion Day rally in Perth have told a federal inquiry into racism and hate directed at First Nations people that they felt dismissed and ignored by authorities, according to the Guardian.
The incident occurred on 26 January at Forrest Place, where an alleged homemade bomb filled with ball bearings, screws and other projectiles was thrown into a crowd of 2,000 people. Witnesses recounted the seriousness of what unfolded, with community members conveying to the inquiry a sense that they had narrowly escaped disaster.
Western Australia police declared the incident was being investigated as a terror attack nine days after it took place, the Guardian reported. The delay has been a focal point for community members who told the parliamentary inquiry they felt authorities did not take their concerns seriously.
The inquiry heard that police were told of unspecified threats before the 26 January rally but did not meet with organisers until after the event. That timeline has contributed to the community’s sense of being overlooked by those responsible for their safety.
Perth man Liam Alexander Hall has been charged with terrorism offences and is currently in custody. His lawyers have indicated he intends to plead not guilty by way of insanity, according to the Guardian.
The testimony forms part of a broader federal inquiry examining racism and hate directed at First Nations people in Australia, with the Perth incident cited as an example of the experiences community members raised before the parliamentary body.
Why it matters
The testimony highlights concerns that authorities may not respond adequately to threats and violence directed at Indigenous communities. The case raises questions about how police handle warnings and communicate with affected communities before and after serious incidents.
Frequently asked questions
What happened at the Perth Invasion Day rally?
According to the Guardian, an alleged homemade bomb filled with ball bearings, screws and other projectiles was thrown into a crowd of 2,000 people at Forrest Place on 26 January.
Has anyone been charged?
Perth man Liam Alexander Hall has been charged with terrorism offences and is in custody. His lawyers have indicated he intends to plead not guilty by way of insanity.
Why did the Indigenous community feel ignored?
Community members told the inquiry that police were warned of unspecified threats before the rally but did not meet with organisers until afterward, and that authorities declared the incident a terror attack only nine days later.