ACT Policing has received reports about several pipe bombs in Belconnen. Photo: ACT Policing.
UPDATE, Friday, 16 January: ACT Policing has confirmed a further four pipe bombs have been seized in the Belconnen area, bringing the total number of discovered devices to 15.
A spokesperson said they are all believed to be linked to the previously found devices.
“ACT Policing yesterday [Thursday, 15 January] cleared the area between Ginninderra Drive and Joynton Smith Drive and will continue to respond to reports of suspected explosive devices as required,” they said.
It’s as officers also responded to a report of an explosive device in Duffy.
Police were called to the area on Thursday where the suspected explosive was rendered safe and seized by officers.
“Enquiries into the source of the suspected explosive device remain ongoing but there is no indication to suggest this device is linked to those found in the Belconnen area earlier this week,” the ACT Policing spokesperson said.
Anyone who witnessed the Duffy incident or anyone with information who has not yet spoken to police is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 quoting reference number 8274907.
Anyone who finds a suspected explosive device is reminded not to touch it, but to walk a safe distance away before calling police on Triple Zero (000).
UPDATE, Thursday, 15 January, 11:20 am – Police have confirmed they have discovered 11 pipe bombs – both exploded and unexploded – across a 1 km stretch of paths and greenbelts in Belconnen.
Some were found by members of the public while others were detected when police searched the area.
ACT Policing Criminal Investigations Detective Acting Inspector Anna Wronski could not comment on any potential motive or how long the pipe bombs had been on the ground before they were discovered, but said the items did pose a threat.
“They are explosives and that’s why we’re treating this so seriously,” she said.
“We do not want members of the public to pick them up, we do not want members of the public to bring them to police stations, we want them to call Triple Zero immediately.”
The discovery of the items has not resulted in the declaration that it is a terrorism-related incident.
The pipe bombs have been found along paths and greenbelts in the Lake Ginninderra area, and it’s unknown whether there could be similar items in other parts of Canberra.
Canberrans have been asked to report any suspicious items to police. Photo: ACT Policing.
Det A/Insp Wronski confirmed some had already exploded before they were found.
“It appears that they most likely have been detonated in place, but it is currently subject to police investigation,” she said.
“A number of the devices have been located intact and a number have been located partially destroyed.”
Anyone who witnesses suspicious behaviour is urged to contact police on 131 444.
If you come across a suspicious item, do not touch it. Instead, walk a safe distance away and call police on Triple Zero (000).
Thursday, 15 January: ACT Policing has issued a warning after “dangerous” pipe bombs have been found on public paths in the past two days.
Officers have been responding to reports of several pipe bombs being found around Lake Ginninderra between Joynton Smith Drive and Ginninderra Drive in Belconnen.
People who discover suspicious items in the area have been urged not to touch them and to immediately contact police on Triple Zero (000).
“While there is no information or reports to suggest that these pipe bombs are currently in other parts of Canberra, police are urging any Canberrans to report suspicious items that match the description of a pipe bomb to police,” an ACT Policing statement read.
Anyone who witnesses suspicious behaviour is urged to contact police on 131 444.
