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The motive of a man accused of making and scattering explosives along footpaths in the nation’s capital has so far eluded police.
The 41-year-old is accused of stealing and purchasing items needed to create pipe bombs from a Bunnings store in Belconnen, in Canberra’s northwest.
Almost a dozen of the explosives were found strewn along parkland footpaths last week.
ACT Policing Detective Sergeant Samuel Harris said a combination of information from the public and detective work led officers to the man’s house in Belconnen on Saturday.
There, police allegedly found items used to assemble pipe bombs.
Late on Saturday night, authorities apprehended a suspect at a residence in Gungahlin, located in the northern part of the city. This individual is set to make an appearance in the ACT Magistrates Court come Monday.
The investigation is still active, and officials anticipate filing additional charges as new information comes to light.
Harris said the man was known to police and was thought to have acted alone.
“At this stage, we don’t believe anyone else was involved,” he told reporters on Sunday.
“We haven’t identified any motivation, but we are confident it’s not related to terrorism.”
The man has been charged with unauthorised manufacture of a prohibited dangerous substance, possessing a prohibited weapon, and theft.
Investigations are ongoing and further charges are expected.
The tube-shaped objects were first found by members of the public on Tuesday.
As of Thursday, at least 11 pipe bombs had been found along a one-kilometre stretch of footpath near Lake Ginninderra, a popular parkland area for runners and dog walkers.
Some of the explosives appeared to have gone off before being found, while others were discovered intact.
“We’ve done an extensive search of the area and we’re confident we’ve located all the ones placed outside,” Harris said.
Police do not believe anyone was hurt when the explosives detonated.
