Vasili Kakoliris: Preston dad allegedly sets off bombs in Thornbury

A carpenter has been accused of making and detonating bombs in a Thornbury street. And that’s not the only reason why police are wary of him.

Vasili Kakoliris allegedly made and detonated bombs in Thornbury.

A carpenter who allegedly made and detonated three bombs in a Thornbury street, causing significant explosions and fire damage, has made a second plea for bail.

Vasili Kakoliris fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, facing charges including causing an explosion likely to endanger life and reckless conduct endangering serious injury.

Kakoliris’ mother appeared at the hearing to offer $50,000 surety against her house to have the Preston man granted bail, with a magistrate having deemed him an unacceptable risk to the public in March.

The court heard Kakoliris was accused of planting and detonating two improvised explosive devices against the wall of units in a laneway off Collins St, Thornbury before 5am on October 31.

Police allege Kakoliris made the devices, which caused significant fire damage to the lane, with tins, firelighters and petrol.

The father allegedly set off a third improvised explosive 15m from where the first two went off after 7am on December 19.

The bomb, which was made of a toolbox, nail cartridges and fire lighter, sent shrapnel flying through the air.

The explosions were allegedly set off a short distance from his partner’s home.

Police told the court it was very fortunate that no one had been injured in the explosions, and Kakoliris’ behaviour demonstrated he was an unacceptable risk to public safety.

Police also allegedly found tens of IDs belonging to other people when they raided his parents’ home in Preston in February, as well as ammunition, stolen computers and numerous iPhones.

Kakoliris allegedly refused to let police access his phone, and when they did, they allegedly found numerous photos of other IDs and evidence he had applied for a series of COVID-19 isolation payments using the stolen identities.

It was heard Kakoliris, who had been in custody since February, could live with a family member on bail, who told the court drugs made him do the things he was accused of, and could work with his dad.

Kakoliris’ lawyer further organised measures for Kakoliris to be able to do urine drug screens three times a week and receive drug and alcohol counselling while on bail.

Magistrate Burt said the police case was certainly not weak and the incidents were serious.

But Ms Burt agreed to bail Kakoliris, saying the risks of doing so could be made acceptable with strict conditions.

Kakoliris’ bail conditions included a ban on him consuming alcohol or drugs, weekly reporting to police, a curfew and a ban from going within 200m of where the bombs were detonated.