A suspected arsonist remains at large almost 24 hours after allegedly bombing a government building and a law firm in broad daylight in a “cruel and brazen attack”, as police make an urgent appeal to the public for help.
Police are still carrying out a major manhunt after a legal aid building and solicitors’ offices were attacked in an arson attack in Gosford on the New South Wales Central Coast.
Incredibly, no one was seriously injured in the incident, which prompted a mass evacuation and shut down the city’s financial district just before 2.30pm on Tuesday.
“This is a callous and brazen attack in the way it has been executed,” Superintendent Darryl Jobson, Brisbane Water Police district commander, told reporters on Friday.
“This is an incident where there could have been a completely different outcome, taking into account the circumstances and fortunately no one was seriously injured and there were no deaths on this occasion.”
Emergency services were initially called to the Legal Aid building on Donnison Street at around 2.20pm on Thursday following reports of explosions.
A short time later, police were called to the Kensmen building on the same street after reports of a fire and smoke coming from the third floor.
Supt Dobson said the alleged arsonist “ignited an improvised explosive device which I would describe as a small household LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) cylinder which caused a fire”.
“This is a callous and brazen attack in the way it was carried out,” Superintendent Darryl Jobson, Brisbane Water Police district commander, told reporters on Friday.
Dramatic footage taken shortly after 8pm showed about two dozen detectives and balaclava-clad riot police descending on an apartment building on Baker Street, less than 100 meters from the Legal Aid offices, which were still being forensically examined.
NSW Police on Thursday night released CCTV footage of a man wanted for questioning over alleged arson attacks on two buildings (pictured).
“The male then left that location and it appears that he found or obtained another bag at another location that we are not aware of,” he added.
The suspect then transported that “duffle bag on wheels” to the Kensmen building, about 250 yards from the road.
The man took a lift to level three, where he allegedly lit another firebomb outside the offices of Conditsis Lawyers.
Dobson said detectives did not know if the man left the second building on foot or in a vehicle.
“The motive is something that interests us a lot,” he said Friday.
It is obvious that there is a reason why the man went to both places and we are eager to determine what the reason is.
Conditsis Lawyers director Michael Mantaj was one of those evacuated from the Legal Aid building where the explosions were reported.
“I didn’t see the guy, but someone threw an incendiary device. All personnel are accounted for. Fortunately no one was hurt,” he told ABC.
New images taken on Friday morning show extensive damage to the lawyers’ offices, which remain closed to staff (pictured)
The fire appears to have destroyed a door and a wall, leaving burn marks on the carpet (pictured)
Dramatic footage taken shortly after 8pm on Thursday showed around two dozen detectives and balaclava-clad riot police descending on an apartment building on Baker Street, 100 meters from the Legal Aid building.
Police released a CCTV image of a man they wanted to speak to who was seen in the area at the time of the incident.
The grainy image shows a white-haired man wearing a surgical mask, a dull green cap, a T-shirt and jeans with a bag at his feet.
Police said they were following a tip and did not identify anyone of interest in the building.
New photographs taken on Friday morning show extensive damage to the lawyers’ offices, which remain closed to staff while investigations continue.
The fire appears to have destroyed a door and wall and left burn marks on the carpet just meters from the public seating area of the government building.