Inner-city Woolworths targeted after Aus Day announcement

The man charged with allegedly vandalising three Brisbane Woolworths stores in an apparent protest against the withdrawal of Australia Day merchandise has begged for forgiveness. VIDEO

The man charged with allegedly vandalising three Brisbane Woolworths stores in an apparent protest against the withdrawal of Australia Day merchandise has begged for forgiveness.

Travis Profke, 40, on Tuesday said the rampage was part of an “out of body experience”, the day after he handed himself into police.

“I feel terrible about it all because it’s not only wrong to do that, but it’s haunting, it’s shocking, it’s violent.” he said.

“Once the CCTV footage was there, I’m like, that was an out of body experience it wasn’t a conscious episode.”

The person fled the scene after seemingly spraying the building and setting off a flare.

It comes after he was charged after allegedly setting off a flare and spraying offensive graffiti outside Woolworths Metro in Teneriffe.

Profke said he was triggered by Woolworths’ announcement they would not sell Australia Day merchandise and stood by the words spray painted on the Teneriffe Metro store’s walls but not the actions.

“It wasn’t right, it wasn’t the right way to go about it,” he said.

“Intense apology, I hope you can see it in my face and see it in my voice, it was the wrong thing to do.”

Officers were called to Woolworths Metro in Teneriffe just after 5am Monday following multiple allegations of someone setting off a flare inside the building and graffitiing “5 days 26 Jan … Woolies f*** u” on the walls.

The alleged act comes after Woolworths confirmed it would not stock any Australia Day merchandise ahead of the public holiday.

The vision appears to show a passer-by approach the man, before the alleged vandal appears to point the can at them and the passer-by walks away.

He appears to then continue to spray the store before walking over to an entrance and seemingly setting off a flare.

Staff clean off graffiti from the exterior of the Woolworths Metro in Teneriffe.

Profke, of Ormiston, was arrested in Fortitude Valley around 7.45pm on Monday and was charged with one count each of wilful damage and wilful damage by graffiti.

He is expected to appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on February 21.

Police were called to an incident at the Woolworths Metro in Teneriffe, with reports a flare had been let off inside and Australia Day graffiti found inside.

The Ormiston man, charged with wilful damage, has been given a notice to appear for two further incidents.

He will front court for two further cases of wilful damage, understood to involve supermarkets in Victoria Point and Cleveland.

He allegedly targeted those stores on January 13.

A Woolworths spokesperson confirmed that no one was injured during the Teneriffe ordeal.

“Thankfully no team members or customers were injured as this occurred before the store opened,” they said in a statement.

“We’re grateful to the police and fire brigade who attended. There’s no reason for vandalism and we’ll continue to liaise with Queensland Police.”