THE WA Greens are pushing for last Monday’s alleged bombing attempt at an Invasion Day rally to be investigated as an act of terrorism and a hate crime.
A 31-year-old Warwick man was arrested by police shortly after allegedly pulling a home-made explosive device from a bag and throwing it from a first-floor walkway into the 2500-strong rally crowd. The device did not detonate.
His name was suppressed when he fronted court this week charged with making or possessing explosives, and an unlawful act with intent to harm.
Wungening Aboriginal Corporation was one of several Indigenous organisations calling for the incident to be treated as a terror-related act.
“We have heard from many members of our community who are traumatised, angry and fearful in the aftermath of this event,” Wungening released in a statement.
“We join other community organisations and advocates in calling on: Police and law enforcement to formally treat this incident as an act of terrorism and a hate crime under relevant Commonwealth and state laws, reflecting the political and racial motivations that this act appears to demonstrate.”
It also called on mainstream media to accurately report on the nature and seriousness of the attack, following complaints that some reporting didn’t convey the threat the crowd faced.
“This attack highlights a wider issue that our communities have faced for generations—the persistent threat of racially motivated violence and the uneven responses that follow,” Wungening’s statement read.
“It also underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms to protect the safety, basic rights and dignity of all Aboriginal people.”
Criteria
Police have said they are investigating the incident as a “potential terrorist act” but are still to determine if it me the official criteria.
Greens MLC Sophie McNeill said she supported the calls for it to be declared an act of terrorism.
“Monday’s attack was clearly designed to terrorise, yet so far the alleged attacker has not been charged with such offences,” Ms McNeill said.
“Laws must be applied consistently and without discrimination to the race, religion or political affiliation of the intended victims.
“We are deeply concerned by the rising threat imposed by far-right extremists to the safety of First Nations people, religious communities, and Black and Brown people across Western Australia.”
Bassendean Labor MP Dave Kelly said he was about 10 metres away from the device when it landed in the crowd.
“I saw it coming through the air and landing among people listening to the speeches,” Mr Kelly posted on social media.
“I saw the look on the face of a young woman who had the device drop at her feet. I wonder how she feels today.
“Twenty four hours later I feel angry that someone would try to injure so many Australians who were exercising their democratic rights on Australian Day.
“I am also so sad that Indigenous leaders who gather in the future will have to consider that there are people in our community that want to hurt them.
“How have we come to that?
“In the last year I have seen a significant increase in nasty social media traffic targeting Indigenous Australians.
“When I post a local video of an Indigenous cultural event, I get dozens of vile comments mostly from fake accounts based in the eastern states.
“Accounts with no posts and no friends. Just vitriol.
“Clearly, it’s an organised response.
“We all need to show each other more respect and more compassion not less.
“Our leaders need to dial down the rhetoric and refrain from using racial or ethnic groups as punching bags.”
The Chook’s social media feed was similarly trolled following last week’s story on the canning of the Birak festival, forcing us to turn off commentary.
by STEVE GRANT