Fed: Man faces charges after Parliament House bomb scare

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Fed: Man faces charges after Parliament House bomb scare

By Sharon Mathieson

CANBERRA, Aug 31 AAP - A 42-year-old man was expected to be charged with trespassinglater today after bomb squad officers were called to inspect a stolen van abandoned outsideParliament House.

The building was shut to the public for more than three hours as an Australian FederalPolice (AFP) bomb squad checked the van, which was covered in politically-motivated graffiti.

Parliament House deputy security controller Shane Stroud said a man drove the stolenwhite van onto the forecourt at 10.45am (AEST).

"He then abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot," Mr Stroud said.

"The individual was apprehended by Australian Protective Service officers and the AFPwas called to respond.

"At this stage it would appear that the individual is simply a disaffected individualbut because of the nature of the vehicle and nature of the incident, we are treating thevehicle as suspect."

An AFP spokeswoman said the man, who was caught about one kilometre from ParliamentHouse, would be charged with trespassing on Commonwealth property.

"The reason why the bomb response team was called in was part of a routine procedure," she said.

Tourists who were inside at the time of the incident were allowed to leave the buildingfrom the House of Representatives entrance but were unable to access the public carparkwhere many had left their vehicles.

The roads leading into Parliament House were also shut to the public and staff.

The graffiti on the van targeted local Canberra media outlets, Telstra, the ANZ bank,Casino Canberra and the federal government.

Comments included: "Telstra - we want 2 talk 2 U" and "ANZ - Do u want a brain?"

The graffiti also called on the federal government to get kids off the street by reopeningthe local dragway, even though that is a matter for the ACT government.

Mr Stroud said the area around the van was cordoned off to the public as bomb squadinspectors checked the vehicle.

The van was eventually removed from the forecourt by a tow truck but a witness saidthe AFP, ACT police, the joint house committee and Parliament House security were debatingwho would foot the bill.

The witness said little attention was initially paid to the van because it was mistakenas a maintenance vehicle.

AAP sm/pw/br

KEYWORD: PARLIAMENT SECOND LEAD (WITH PIX)