Shamera Fernando: Protester detonated improvised explosive at Land Forces weapons expo in Melbourne

An engineer who detonated an improvised explosive device to disrupt an international arms fair has described it as a “terrible error of judgement”.

Shamera Fernando detonated a “homemade incendiary device” in the bathroom of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center on September 12 last year.

The explosion caused a small fire in the middle stall which was self-extinguished, but $4600 was spent on the bulkhead.

At the time, the center was hosting the three-day Army International Land Defense Expo, and the incident unfolded shortly after 1 p.m. on the second day of the fair.

Fernando appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday afternoon after admitting charges including criminal damage, possession of items used to destroy or harm and drugs charges.

Summing up the case against Fernando, prosecutor Alex Turner said he used his job as an electrical engineer to gain permission to enter the fair before planting the explosive.

Mr Turner told the court Fernando was captured on CCTV attending the day before to “cover the scope” of the event, describing it as a “targeted attack” based on his protest ideology.

“Even though it was a small fire, it had the potential to disrupt the event,” he said.

Staff alerted emergency services and the toilet was cordoned off for investigation but the incident proceeded as planned.

Police raided Fernando’s home at 1 a.m. on September 13 and discovered 28 undetonated homemade incendiary devices and “plenty of literature” related to protest and activism.

Mr Turner said Fernando was allegedly motivated by the Disrupt the Ground Forces protest movement.

The arms and defense fair was the subject of significant protests as protest groups linked it to the war in Gaza and thousands of people gathered outside the event.

There were intense clashes between police and protesters, with dozens of protesters arrested and police officers injured.

Protesters trashed a cafe and threw chairs at police, who retaliated with capsicum spray outside the Army’s expo at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

Reading a statement to the court from a man who was in the bathroom when the device exploded, Mr Turner said he said the direct light and sound of the explosion were “shocking”.

The man said he continues to exercise caution in public places and continues to consider the impact the incident could have on his life, family and health.

“I can’t confirm if I have some type of respiratory chemical damage,” he said.

Fernando’s lawyer, Angus Cameron, said his client expressed regret for his actions and was experiencing “tremendous turmoil” in his personal life at the time.

He told the court he was a young neurodiverse person, aged 24 at the time, and had “turned a page” by seeking help for mental health issues and volunteering to give back to society.

“Ms Fernando made a terrible, terrible error of judgment and she regrets it; she has taken responsibility for it,” he said.

“He is someone for whom rehabilitation is really important.”

Prosecutors argued that prison time was the only appropriate punishment, while his defense called for him to be placed on a community-based order.

The court was told magistrate Donna Bakos gave the sentencing order last week.

Fernando will be sentenced on December 3.