A man and woman have been charged by the Fixated Persons Investigations Unit over an alleged car bombing and ongoing intimidation in the Illawarra.
Detectives from Lake Illawarra Police Area Command established Strike Force Cleary to investigate reports of harassment and intimidation following a minor altercation in a carpark at Warrawong on Friday 22 February 2019.
The investigation was referred to the Fixated Persons Investigations Unit after reports of further threats and malicious damage, and a car bombing on Tuesday 5 March 2019.
As part of the investigation, detectives became aware of threats made over the phone to a relative of an employee of an electronics store over an unrelated dispute.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives, assisted by the Public Order and Riot Squad, arrested a 33-year-old man during a vehicle stop on King Street, Warrawong, just before 6am today (Tuesday 2 April 2019).
During a search of the man's vehicle, police located an extendable baton, a drone, and various documents.
The man was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station and charged with two counts of use carriage service to threaten serious harm, two counts of stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm, use carriage service to threaten to kill, destroy or damage property, place explosive in/near vehicle with intent cause harm, threaten or cause injury to person for being witness and two counts of possess or use prohibited weapon without permit.
He was refused bail to appear at Wollongong Local Court tomorrow (Wednesday 3 April 2019).
A short time later, strike force investigators, assisted by the Public Order and Riot Squad and Lake Illawarra Police District, executed a search warrant at a home at Lake Heights.
During the search, police located a pipe bomb, which was rendered safe by specialist officers from the Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit.
Investigators also seized an electronic control device, numerous electronic storage devices, a computer, a laptop, and mobile phones.
A 31-year-old woman was arrested at the home and taken to Wollongong Police Station and charged with accessory after the fact to destroy or damage property and stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm.
She was granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear at Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday 22 May 2019.
A second search warrant was also executed at a Lurnea home, where investigators seized further items consistent with the construction of improvised explosive devices (IED).
Investigations are continuing.
The Fixated Persons Investigations Unit was established in 2017 by Commissioner Mick Fuller to focus on the detection, intervention, and prevention of so-called 'lone actor' and 'fixated person' threats and grievance-fuelled violence across the state.
Anyone with information in relation to fixated persons is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. People should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
