Ryan Dean Harder: second man charged with arson following Old Parliament House fire

A Victorian man has faced ACT Magistrates Court charged with arson, resisting a territory official and two counts of assaulting police relating the Old Parliament House fire.

A second man has been charged with arson in relation to the Old Parliament House fire in December.

Ryan Dean Harder, 40, from Dingley Village in Victoria was charged with joint commission arson; resisting a territory official; and two counts of assaulting a frontline community service provider.

It is alleged he was involved in setting the facade of the Old Parliament House alight and also shoved two police officers during the December 30 “sovereign citizens” protest.

Ryan Dean Harder leaves the ACT Law Courts. He is charged with crimes including arson over the Old Parliament House Fire. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

Mr Harder did not make any pleas, but applied for bail.

Magistrate Robert Cook granted Mr Harder bail on the condition he leave the ACT and report to the Boronia Police Station once a week.

Mr Harder will be able to make future ACT Magistrates Court appearances via phone.

Mr Cook warned the alleged arsonist if he broke bail conditions he’d find himself back in custody.

Ryan Dean Harder attempts to hide from journalists by hiding behind a sculpture at the ACT Law Courts. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

Mr Harder is the second person to be charged with arson in relation to the incident with co-accused Nicholas Reed being charged with arson early last month.

A statement from ACT Policing released on Wednesday said Mr Harder was arrested on Tuesday after being “detected on the Barton Highway en route to Canberra”.

The statement said Operation Pike, the joint task-force between ACT Policing and the Australian Federal Police investigating the Old Parliament House fire, has charged four people so far.