ACT Policing’s Detective Inspector Dave Craft says the alleged incidents were “obviously targeted in some way, shape or form”. Photos: Claire Sams.
UPDATE, 5 pm: Police have revealed fresh details about the chaotic events that forced a major Defence conference to evacuate and led to a heightened police presence.
ACT Policing’s Detective Inspector Dave Craft said officers received calls about a disturbance at Canberra’s Hyatt Hotel at about 9 am today.
At the time, the hotel was hosting the ADM Congress, a major Defence conference.
He alleged two males had thrown rocks and a “suspicious item” at doors towards the rear of the hotel, smashing glass panels, before leaving on bicycles.
“We identified a crime scene and cordoned off the area, where it’s been processed here today,” he said.
He wouldn’t provide further details on the item allegedly thrown through the window (alongside the rocks), but confirmed it wasn’t an explosive device.
Detective Inspector Craft said that while any motivation for the alleged acts was unknown, they would form a “key part” of the police investigation.
An ACT Policing spokesperson also confirmed that no injuries were reported to police.
Later, at about 12 pm, Detective Inspector Craft said officers found a number of “suspicious baggage items” in one of the hotel’s conference rooms that had been left unattended.
“In regard to that, police, as a precaution, cordoned off the room, moved participants from that conference [room] to an external area.
“Those bags were processed and cleared by our bomb staff and also police.”
The owners were located and the conference resumed afterwards.
He said police believed there was no ongoing threat to the public’s safety.
“We believe that this was obviously targeted in some way, shape or form. Police don’t have any [ongoing] concerns for the premises here at the hotel … or for future planned protest activity, which may occur later this afternoon.”
The ACT Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) comprising of AFP Counter Terrorism, ACT Policing and ASIO were monitoring the response.
He said that no arrests had been made, and asked anyone with information to come forward to police.
“There’s a number of inquiries that police are following up … mainly around the persons of interest that were observed and captured on CCTV for the events that happened here this morning.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers by visiting the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Please quote P2425591.
ACT Policing say officers arrived just before 9 am today (18 February). Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
UPDATE, 2 pm: Some attendees of the annual ADM Congress defence conference initially thought there was a shooter when multiple items were thrown through a window at the Hyatt Hotel Canberra this morning (18 February).
Keynote speaker, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy, was addressing the conference hosted by Australian Defence Magazine when Australian Federal Police (AFP) asked several hundred delegates to leave the ballroom venue after the reported discovery of a suspicious package.
The evacuation follows an incident earlier in the day between the end of an address from former defence minister Christopher Pyne and a speech by Navy Chief Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, when a rock smashed through a window at the venue.
Some delegates initially feared it was gunshots.
The incidents occurred on a day when the Students and Staff Against War (SSAW) ANU and the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) had planned to hold a protest at the front of the hotel at 4:30 this afternoon.
It is not yet known if the incidents and the planned rally are linked.
In a post published on the Green Left website, the protest organisers are calling for sanctions on Israel, for the removal of restrictions on Palestine protests and on the right to criticise Israel, for the government to cut all ties with organisations it says are complicit in genocide, and for the ANU to end collaboration with defence companies it claims are complicit in genocide, citing Canberra-based EOS and Northrop Grumman as examples.
“The ADM congress is sponsored by Electro Optic Systems, an arms company exporting R400 systems used by Israel, and includes speakers from EOS, BAE Systems, Palantir and other complicit arms and surveillance companies,” the website claims, adding that speakers at the rally would include SSAW, IPAN, and an ANU Student Association Education Officer.
During a press conference in Tasmania this morning, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was asked about the protest at the Hyatt.
“I think I continue to just say, people need to turn the temperature down, politicians and people – that does nothing to advance a cause, that just alienates people from whatever the supposed cause that this person has done.
“People who break the law also should face the full force of the law.”
18 February, 12:30 pm: The AFP bomb squad has been called to the ADM Congress, a major Defence event, at Canberra’s Hyatt Hotel after multiple items were allegedly thrown through a window, causing damage.
An ACT Policing spokesperson confirmed that officers, including the bomb squad, were responding to the incident in Yarralumla.
They were called to the hotel at about 8:55 this morning (18 February).
The police spokesperson said an unknown number of items were thrown through a window, causing what was described as “minor property damage”.
Police also believe rocks were thrown.
More than 10 police vehicles are in the area, and officers are continuing their investigation into the incident.
On Wednesday, the Hyatt Hotel was hosting the ADM Congress, a major Defence conference.
It is understood Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy was set to give a ministerial address at the conference and was among those evacuated from the hotel.
The ADM Events website describes the event as a major conference, with sessions including addresses from State and Federal politicians, business leaders and other experts.
“The Congress is the pivotal event in the Australian defence calendar focussing on future capability requirements, major acquisition projects, sustainment, regional geopolitics, and national security issues,” the website states.
A spokesperson for Mr Conroy said people should avoid violent actions.
“Protests are part of democracy,” they said in a statement to Region.
“We accept that and support that, but they should always be conducted in a non-violent way.”
It is understood the conference is continuing.
More to come.
