A New South Wales man has been arrested for allegedly lighting a fire in a bin at Gold Coast Airport today (31 October, 2023).
AFP officers at Gold Coast Airport were alerted to the alleged incident in the carpark at 6.40am.
The fire was quickly extinguished and the man, 23, was arrested at the scene.
He is due to appear in Coolangatta Magistrates Court on 15 January 2024 charged with:
- One count of willful damage, contrary to section 469 of the Criminal Code Act 1899 (Qld) as applied by section 4(1) of the Commonwealth Places (Application of Laws) Act 1970 (Cth); and
- One count of public nuisance, as applied by section 4 of the Commonwealth Places (Application of Laws) Act 1970 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for wilful damage is five years' imprisonment and six months' imprisonment for public nuisance.
Superintendent Josh Kinghorn said the AFP had a zero tolerance approach to criminal behaviour at airports.
"This is concerning behaviour and the AFP will not accept or tolerate any behaviour that interferes with our national aviation or critical infrastructure sites," Superintendent Kinghorn said.
"The AFP are based at major airports to prevent, disrupt and respond to security incidents and will do so swiftly as in this case."
If you require a police presence at an airport, or wish to report an incident or provide information, please call the AFP's Airport Watch on 131 AFP (131 237).
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