A magistrate has lifted a suppression order on the identity of a man accused of throwing a homemade bomb into an Invasion Day rally crowd in a terror act.
Liam Alexander Hall, 31, has been charged with engaging in a terrorist act over the incident in Perth on Jan. 26.
Thousands of people were evacuated from Forrest Place in Perth’s city centre after police found an object containing volatile chemicals, nails and metal ball bearings.
Police alleged Hall threw the explosive device from a walkway above the crowd of Indigenous people, families and supporters.
The device did not detonate despite a fuse allegedly being lit.
The incident has been declared an act of terror—the first in Western Australia’s history—with the case returning to court on Feb. 17.
Hall did not appear and the matter was adjourned to March 31 after a commonwealth charge of engaging in a terrorist act was added to two state charges.
Magistrate Lynette Dias later lifted a suppression order on Hall’s identity after hearing submissions from a commonwealth prosecutor and lawyers for various media outlets.
If Hall is found guilty of the terrorism offence, he is likely to face life behind bars.
He is yet to enter pleas to any of the charges, which also include an unlawful act or omission with intent to harm and making or possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances.
Police will allege the incident was a nationalist and racially motivated attack targeting Indigenous people at the protest.
The man was self-radicalised and acted alone, police previously said.
He had allegedly accessed “bomb making instructions” and “pro-white male” material online, and was “accessing and participating in the ideology.”
The incident has left Indigenous Australians fearful and angry, as they come to terms with the allegedly targeted attack.
Indigenous groups have criticised authorities for not immediately declaring it a terrorist act amid cries of double standards and racism.
Police defended the nine-day delay, saying investigators needed to gather evidence on the alleged bomber’s motivation and ideology so it could be legally proved in court.
