Parkville man, Steven Mauldon, 33, charged after bomb scare shuts down Collins St, Melbourne

A 33-year-old Parkville man has limped into the dock for his first court appearance after a bomb scare shut down part of Melbourne’s CBD.

A man charged over a bomb scare in Melbourne’s CBD is also accused of a bomb hoax in Geelong.

A portion of Collins St was cordoned off on Wednesday afternoon as bomb squad detectives probed a white Volkswagen parked outside an office building.

Detectives uncovered a can of petrol, a firearm and a quantity of drugs from the vehicle.

Steven Mauldon, 33, from Parkville, was arrested at the scene shortly after midday.

Police later executed a search warrant at a North Shore address in Geelong, where they uncovered a number of items including “suspected explosive devices”.

A bomb robot was seen at the scene as well as technicians in protective gear sifting through sand bags with a torch.

Mr Mauldon briefly appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where his lawyer Lauren Tye requested he be seen by a custody nurse.

“He may of sustained an injury yesterday during the arrest,” she said.

Police search a car in Melbourne’s CBD. Picture: David Geraghty

The scene of the investigation in Melbourne’s CBD. Picture: David Geraghty

Magistrate Roslyn Porter noted Mr Mauldon appeared to be limping as he was brought into the dock.

He is facings 21 charges including making and possessing an explosive substance, bomb hoax, traffic drug of dependence, prohibited person possess firearm, possess weapons, possess proceeds of crime and theft of a motor vehicle.

Charge sheets allege Mr Mauldon made an “improvised explosive device” and a bomb hoax in North Shore last month.

It is alleged he stole the Volkswagen and more than $15,000 in cash suspected to be the proceeds of crime.

Drug charges include trafficking meth, cocaine and heroin and possessing amphetamine.

He made no application for bail and was remanded to reappear in court on July 4.

A woman seated in court waved to him as he was led from the dock.

Police search a vehicle after Collins St was put into lockdown. Picture: David Geraghty

Detectives at the scene. Picture: David Geraghty

A Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed the man’s arrest, which caused hundreds of office workers to remain inside surrounding buildings for up to an hour, was “not terror related”.

“Detectives have charged a man as part of an ongoing Arson and Explosives Squad investigation,” the spokesperson said.

“The matter is not terror related and there is no immediate threat to community safety.

“The Bomb Response Unit has deployed to conduct a safety check on a vehicle in Collins Street.

“Further information will be provided once operationally appropriate to do so.”

The investigation was confirmed unrelated to the bank.

Workers said they were alerted to the operation about midday over loudspeakers inside their buildings.

Looks like some sort of bomb threat in Melbourne on Collins Street. White VW Golf was parked/abandoned and has now been inspected by shielded police. pic.twitter.com/6ZAF2xiM9E

— David Vader (@realdavidvader) June 19, 2024

Something appears to be happening at the Bendigo Bank on Collins st, Melbourne. Street is closed off by police. Buildings in lockdown. pic.twitter.com/T14fvNMwCM

— Matt Smith 🎙️ (@nightlightguy) June 19, 2024

People were directed away from the area until it was cleared about 1pm.

Sportsbet IT specialist Caitlin Granger said shock rippled through the 700 workers inside her office building across the street.

“I was just getting ready to go to lunch, and the next thing you know there’s a wastage in our work channels saying ‘no one leave the building, apparently there’s a potential bomb threat,’ she said.

“We were up there for about half an hour and no one was allowed to leave.

“It’s just sort of crazy to think that something like that could be happening here on the ground while we’re just minding our own business.”

“It’s a little bit concerning … to hear that there’s a bomb threat, that’s absolutely insane to me.

“It’s so surreal. You see it on the news in other places, but to actually be right here on the scene, it’s just mind blowing to me.”

Police detectives inspect a Volkswagen Golf on Collins Street after a police operation shut the street down in Melbourne’s CBD. Picture: Mark Stewart

Office worker Vanessa Piorek said: “It’s just pretty scary that you go to (into) work once a week and this is what happens”.

Ms Piorek’s colleague Emily Tee said staff had received reports of the incident before they were told to stay indoors.

“We were getting regular updates from security in relation to that … they mentioned that there was the bomb squad,” Ms Tee said.

Trams were stopped along Collins St following police request.

“My office building on Collins St currently locked down and we have to stay away from windows, closed down the whole street, cops with guns out the front,” one user posted to X.

“What in the United States is going on.”

Collins St reopened about 1.30pm.