In brief
- A man accused of throwing a homemade bomb into a crowd at a 26 January rally has faced court for the first time.
- He had been too unwell at appear at a previous hearing in Perth.
A man has appeared in court for the first time following charges related to throwing a homemade explosive into a crowd during an Invasion Day rally.
Liam Alexander Hall, aged 32, is facing accusations of carrying out a terrorist act linked to an incident that took place in Perth on January 26.
The discovery of an object packed with volatile chemicals, nails, and metal ball bearings led to the evacuation of thousands from Forrest Place, located in Perth’s city center.
Authorities claim that Hall tossed the explosive device from an elevated walkway over a gathering composed of Indigenous people, families, and their supporters.
Although a fuse was reportedly ignited, the device ultimately failed to explode.
Hall’s case has previously been heard in Perth Magistrates Court, but he was too unwell to appear on those occasions.
On Tuesday, he was present in a courtroom at a psychiatric hospital, where the three charges against him were read via a video-link.
Hall, dressed in a white shirt and black pants with unkempt hair, wasn’t required to enter a plea and said very little.
He slowly raised his hand to acknowledge his identity and softly said “yes madam” when magistrate Heidi Watson asked if he was Liam Hall.
Hall also said he understood when Watson read the three charges he is facing to him for the first time.
In addition to the terrorism charge — the first in Western Australia’s history — Hall is charged with intent to harm after he allegedly “threw an improvised grenade into a protester crowd”.
He is also accused of making and possessing explosives.
Police will allege the incident was a nationalist and racially motivated attack targeting First Nations people at the protest.
Hall was self-radicalised and acted alone, police previously said.
He had allegedly accessed bomb-making instructions and “pro-white male” material online, and was accessing and participating in the ideology.
Hall was remanded in custody, and his case was adjourned to 16 September for committal mention in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court.
The court previously heard Hall was in a vulnerable mental health condition and was living alone when the alleged Australia Day attack happened.
If he is found guilty of the terrorism offence, he faces life behind bars.
For the latest from SBS News, download our app and subscribe to our newsletter.