Perth Invasion Day bomb threat exposes our national indifference

About 2,500 people gathered at Forrest Place in Boorloo (Perth) to celebrate Invasion Day, which this country officially calls Australia Day. They listened to speakers, unfurled banners and occupied civic space for several hours, visibly, peacefully and together, in line with the purpose of the protest.

Then an object from the balcony above arced through the air and landed near the stage. Police allege it was a homemade improvised explosive device containing nails, ball bearings and chemicals, later described as a fragmentation-style device with the potential to cause serious damage or death.