Canterbury IED: Robert Street explosion, nine men arrested
Nine men have been arrested after an IED explosion at a Sydney home which saw a woman suffer serious burns. Police have described the device, which contained aerosol cans, fire lighters, shrapnel and thumb tacks, as potentially deadly.
Inner West
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An IED made of aerosol cans, fire lighters, shrapnel and thumb tacks could have killed a woman who was targeted in a case of mistaken identity, police have said.
Nine people were arrested on Thursday over the explosion at a home in Canterbury about 11.20pm on June 8.
The woman inside had noticed a fire on the front balcony and had gone to extinguish it when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated.
The 55-year-old Denise Lavell was rushed to Concord Hospital suffering burns to her face, hands, chest and legs.
Almost two months later, detectives from a special strike force raided homes across Sydney on Thursday morning where eight men, aged between 17 and 20 were arrested.
Speaking after the arrests, Detective chief inspector Ian Pryde said it was a serious crime and the IED had the potential to kill the woman.
“This has the real potential to kill or seriously maim a person,” Insp Pryde told reporters outside Burwood police station.
He said the IED was “crudely made” from aerosol cans containing a flammable substance, fire lighters, shrapnel and thumb tacks.
Detective Superintendent Paul Devaney said, “We will allege this was an act of retribution from an alleged theft of prohibited drugs belonging to criminal group members.
“We further allege this act at Canterbury was one of mistaken identity with a 55-year-old female having no involvement in any offence whatsoever.”
Five men have been charged over the improvised explosive device which carries 25 years jail time.
The three others were charged with participating in a criminal group and the manufacture and supply of drugs.
Massimo Lombardo, 18, from Croydon Park, appeared before Burwood Court on Thursday afternoon on a charge of using explosive substance with intent to cause harm.
Lombardo sat in the dock wearing a black hoodie while his parents and grandparents looked on in court.
The 18-year-old kept his head low as his lawyer Oscar Chidiac made a bail application arguing he was young at 18 years of age and “vulnerable.”
His mother Angela Lombardo dabbed tissues to her eyes as his lawyer told the court Lombardo was completing an apprenticeship as a plumber at TAFE and said that ‘house arrest’ was an option if he were released.
The police prosecutor told the court it was an “extremely strong prosecution case” and “sophisticated adult crime.”
Magistrate Lisa Stapleton refused his bail
Lombardo will remain in custody on remand.
Zhane Thompson, 19, from Concord, who appeared on the same charge, was granted bail at Burwood Local Court.
Magistrate Greg Grogin told the court it was an “extremely serious matter” and accepted bail conditions would mitigate risks including a curfew from 8am-6pm and reporting to police three times a week.
Three other men, from Yagoona, Punchbowl and Zetland, were also charged with various offences relating to the explosive, while three others from Zetland, Malabar and Wattle Grove were charged over their alleged involvement in supplying and manufacturing a commercial quantity of drugs.
All six were refused bail and are due to appear at Central Local Court on Friday.
Insp Pryde alleged they were not an organised group but a bunch of young men who got up to “bad” activities.
“They are extremely serious charges. They made a number of bad decisions that lead to life changing experiences to the victim involved,” Det Supt Devaney said.
Investigations continue.
