Gay rights supporter who attempted suicide by trying to blow up van outside Australian Christian Lobby HQ said he ‘disliked’ the group
A GAY rights supporter who attempted suicide by trying to blow up his van outside the Australian Christian Lobby headquarters allegedly Googled “how much gas to cause an explosion” weeks before.
NSW
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A GAY rights supporter who attempted suicide by blowing himself up in a van outside the Australian Christian Lobby headquarters said he disliked the organisation and would have been happy to see it destroyed, it is alleged in court documents.
Jaden Duong, 36, had allegedly Googled “how much gas to cause explosion”, “countries with same sex marriage” and “Australian Christian Lobby” in the weeks before he blew himself up with four 9kg gas cylinders outside the Canberra building on December 21 last year.
The van failed to explode and Duong, badly burned, walked 4km to The Canberra Hospital, where police were called.
During his police interview he allegedly said he chose to “blow myself up” at the ACL headquarters because he disliked the organisation.
“Why is there a dislike there?” the officer asked.
“Because religions are failed,” Duong allegedly replied.
“And what was your aim at that location?” the officer asked.
“My aim was to blow myself up.”
“Were there any thoughts about property at that location?”
“Well if that blew up, yay, but actually I was just trying to blow myself up,” he said.
Duong, who was a former competitor in Mr Gay Asian Pacific, appeared in ACT Magistrates Court today with burns to his face, neck and a bandage over his right hand and pleaded not guilty to arson and property damage.
His lawyer Peter Woodhouse told the court although Duong did not dispute what happened he was pleading not guilty on the grounds of mental impairment.
The case is now set for trial in the ACT Supreme Court.
The court documents claim Duong had made plans for his suicide by quitting his job and had chosen December 21 to carry it out because it was the summer solstice.
Duong had allegedly planned a “mountaintop bonfire-type thing” but could not find a suitable location as there were too many people.
“The decision to drive to the ACL was spontaneous due to no other significant location and he is ‘not a huge fan’ of the ACL, or religion in general, due to their beliefs and position on sexuality,” the facts claim.
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Duong describes himself as a business consultant on his LinkedIn profile and lived in San Francisco for a number of years where he volunteered for Democrat politician David Chiu who campaigns, among other things, for LGBT families.
He also volunteered for the Democrat Mayor of Oakland Libby Schaaf, who also campaigns for gay rights.
Soon after the alleged arson attack the AFP said his actions were not, “politically, religiously or ideologically motivated.”
The damage to the building is estimated to have cost $100,000.
Duong was bailed to appear at ACT Supreme Court next Thursday for a directions hearing.
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