Handcuffed and wearing a spitting gag, a man charged with attempted murder over a Darwin firebombing sat in court on Friday morning restrained by two police officers.
The 45-year-old appeared in Darwin Magistrates Court charged with nine counts of attempted murder, one count of unlawfully setting fire to a building, one count of intending to cause serious harm by causing an explosion, and one count of recklessly endangering life.
The charges follow the firebombing of the TIO Insurance and Banking office in Darwin's CBD on Wednesday morning, in which 19 people were injured.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
The man's lawyers did not apply for bail.
Police allege the man entered the TIO office at about 11am (CST) on Wednesday and lit jerry cans of fuel and firecrackers in a shopping trolley, causing an explosion and fire.
He then drove to Darwin police station where he handed himself in, police say.
Wearing a full-face mask to cover his mouth and with fly-screen mesh over his eyes, the man sat silently in the dock as his matter was briefly mentioned.
Magistrate Dick Wallace adjourned the matter until March 5, remanding him in custody until then.
