Non-fatal injuries 19 Location Darwin, Australia Attack type Bomb | Start date February 3, 2010 Total number of deaths 0 Location Darwin | |
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Target Territory Insurance Office | ||
The 2010 Darwin Shopping Centre Bombing was an incident which occurred on 3 February 2010 at the CBD Plaza shopping centre, located in the Darwin CBD. 19 people were wounded, including a Police Officer.
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Bombing
In the lead up to the bombing, it is believed the suspect had made several threats to the office, and as a result security had been stepped up at the office.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:00am local time, when a dissatisfied customer of the local branch of Territory Insurance pushed a shopping trolley loaded with petrol cans, and fireworks into the building. where it then detonated, wounding many inside in the Bank. The wounded were taken by ambulance to nearby Royal Darwin Hospital. The streets around the area, as well as the shopping mall which also contained a Woolworths outlet, were closed down while Emergency Services attended the scene. Soon after the incident a local man handed himself into Police.
Despite the obvious shock and horror of the incident, many nearby civilians and passers-by rushed to the scene to help those who had been wounded in the blast. Northern Territory Police Commander Rob Kendrick praised those who ignored their own safety to aid those in need saying
"I have heard that persons shopping in the vicinity did provide assistance.
Aftermath
Paul Wayne Clarke, 44, who had formally changed his name to Bird, handed himself into Police soon after the bombing and has been charged with at least 9 counts of attempted murder, Setting fire to a building, Intending serious harm by causing explosion, as well as recklessly endangering life. He was refused bail and appeared at Darwin Magistrates Court on 5 February On 30 April, he reappeared in court via video link from Berrimah prison. Bird hung himself while on remand at Darwin Correctional Centre and died around 1.20pm on 20 January 2011 at Royal Darwin Hospital, at the age of 46.