ACT Policing is urgently investigating the source of seventeen explosive devices discovered in public areas across Canberra this week, with separate incidents reported in the city's north and south.
Fifteen Pipe Bombs Recovered Near Lake Ginninderra
The major discovery occurred in Belconnen, where police seized fifteen dangerous pipe bombs from parkland west of Lake Ginninderra. The operation began on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, after a member of the public reported a suspicious item.
By Thursday, officers had recovered eleven "metallic cylindrical" pipe bombs during searches between Ginninderra Drive and Joynton Smith Crescent. Despite the active search, the area remained open to the public without police cordons.
An ACT Policing spokeswoman confirmed on Friday that four additional pipe bombs were found in the same area. All four of these devices had already detonated prior to police locating them.
Detective Acting Inspector Anna Wronski stated that some of the recovered items were partially destroyed, indicating they had exploded earlier. "Some of the items that have been located have been detonated prior to police locating them, and some have not yet detonated," she told journalists.
Police have since halted active searches in Belconnen but remain ready to respond to further reports.
Second, Unrelated Incident in South Canberra
In a separate event on Thursday, January 15, police responded to a bomb threat in the suburb of Duffy in Weston Creek. Witnesses reported multiple Australian Federal Police vehicles and a cordoned-off house on a residential street around 11am.
An ACT Policing spokeswoman confirmed that two suspected explosive devices, found outdoors, were reported and subsequently destroyed by a specialist team. She clarified that this incident was not related to the fifteen pipe bombs found in Belconnen.
The Canberra Times understands the Duffy explosives did not resemble the pipe bombs found in the north. Police are seeking witnesses or anyone with information about the Duffy incident, asking them to contact Crime Stoppers quoting reference number 8274907.
Police Response and Public Warning
Acting Inspector Wronski acknowledged the discoveries in public places had raised significant community concern. She emphasised that police are treating the matter seriously but are not currently treating it as a terror-related event.
"It is currently under investigation, and we are treating it very seriously, but it has not been declared a terrorism-related event," she said.
Following a public alert, police received multiple reports of suspicious items. The bomb squad worked to verify these reports throughout Thursday evening. Authorities have chosen not to disclose the exact number of reports received since Tuesday.
The police message to residents remains clear and urgent. Anyone who locates a suspicious item must not touch it. They should stay with the device at a safe distance and immediately call Triple Zero (000).
As of now, no arrests or charges have been made in connection with either the fifteen Belconnen pipe bombs or the two devices found in Duffy. Investigations by the criminal investigations team are ongoing to determine who is behind the dangerous finds.
