A man who allegedly threw a bomb towards attendees at a Perth Invasion Day rally is being investigated by the WA Joint Counter Terrorism Team.
At Monday's rally, a 31-year-old man allegedly tossed an improvised explosive device (IED) containing an unknown liquid and shrapnel into the crowd, where people had gathered to protest.
Specialist officers from the WA Police Bomb Response Unit and forensic teams have confirmed that the device was a "fragment bomb", using volatile chemicals designed to explode on impact.
CCTV footage released by WA police shows a man throwing the glass object in Forrest Place, which narrowly misses attendees, before running away.
He was identified and arrested by police shortly afterwards, and later appeared on Tuesday charged with making or possessing an explosive, and committing an act with intent to cause harm.
He did not apply for bail and the matter was adjourned until 17 February.
The court granted a suppression order of the man's identity due to fears for his safety.
On Wednesday evening, it was confirmed that the man is now under investigation by counter terrorism authorities.
"The Western Australia Joint Counter Terrorism Team (WA JCTT) can confirm it is investigating the incident at Forrest Place in Perth on Australia Day as a potential terrorist act," the statement read.
The WA JCTT is made up of state and federal police, along with ASIO.
'Throw the book at him', Albanese says
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the man's alleged actions were shocking.
"My view … is that they should throw the book at him," he told reporters in Darwin this week.
"This was an incident that is quite shocking. He's been charged with two serious offences and I look forward to him being prosecuted to the full force of the law."
WA Police commissioner Col Blanch said it was fortunate the device did not explode.
"For whatever reason it hasn't detonated, but it is explosive compounds and it did contain the ball bearings and the screws and/or nails," he told Perth radio station 6PR on Tuesday.
All major capital cities hosted Invasion Day protests, while opposing right-wing March for Australia rallies took place in capitals and some regional centres on Australia Day.
January 26 is a day of mourning for many Indigenous people, marking the First Fleet's 1788 arrival and the start of British colonisation.
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