Why it took nine days to charge alleged Jan 26 attacker with terrorism

WA Police commissioner Col Blanch said investigators were “very swift” in charging a 31-year-old man with engaging in a terrorist act, nine days after he allegedly threw a bomb into an Invasion Day protest in Perth on 26 January.

“To the people that say it took too long, I disagree with that premise,” he said.

To lay the terrorism charge, Blanch said authorities had to comb through the man’s online activity to prove the act was intended to cause serious harm to advance a political or ideological cause.

Australian Federal Police commissioner Krissy Barrett supported Blanch, saying investigations started just minutes after the alleged attack took place.

“Nine days later, we are at a point where we’ve been able to charge someone for one of the most serious offences that are on the legislative books,” she said.

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