A man accused of manufacturing more than a dozen improvised explosive devices discovered across Canberra's public areas has been publicly identified following a brief court appearance.
Court Appearance and Charges
Damien Paul O'Brien, aged 41, appeared before the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday, January 19, 2026. The defendant, who walked with the aid of crutches, did not apply for bail and did not enter pleas to the charges against him.
He faces serious allegations, including the unauthorised manufacture of a prohibited dangerous substance, possessing a prohibited weapon, and theft. Prosecutors told the court the explosives charges relate specifically to 15 pipe bombs.
The theft charge is connected to galvanised pipes and caps allegedly stolen from a Bunnings hardware store. Prosecutor Nathan Deakes revealed O'Brien was initially arrested on a warrant for allegedly failing to appear for an unrelated sentencing matter last year.
Police Investigation and Seizures
ACT Policing investigators arrested O'Brien on Saturday, January 17, after executing a search warrant at his Belconnen home. During the raid, police located several items consistent with the manufacture of pipe bombs.
The discovery of the explosives began when a passer-by reported finding a suspicious device in north Canberra on January 13. The majority of the subsequently located bombs were found on footpaths and in green spaces west of Lake Ginninderra in the Belconnen area. Two additional suspicious items were later found in a residential part of Weston Creek.
Detective Sergeant Samuel Harris stated that all items allegedly used in the offences were obtained from retail stores. He confirmed police had not yet identified a motive behind the manufacturing and placement of the devices.
"At this stage, we don't believe that anyone else was involved in the offending, but of course it's still an ongoing investigation, so we're open," Detective Sergeant Harris said.
Ongoing Inquiry and Public Safety
Authorities have confirmed that some of the pipe bombs were found after they had already detonated. Police have stressed the incidents are not believed to be related to terrorism.
The investigation remains active as police work to understand the full circumstances surrounding the case. O'Brien has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to return to court in February.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the nature of the items and their discovery in public spaces, raising concerns about community safety. ACT Policing continues to urge the public to report any suspicious items and not to touch them.
