Bomb attempt after ‘beep’ in McDonald’s car park

It started with a horn toot at a local McDonald’s car park. It allegedly ended with a car bombing.

A couple has been arrested after an incident at a McDonald's carpark led to a bomb allegedly being planted under a car. Picture: NSW Police/Phil Williams

A couple from NSW has been arrested after allegedly planting a bomb under a car as part of a campaign against a driver who “beeped” at them in a McDonald’s car park.

The man, 33, and woman, 31, were nabbed in the Illawarra on Tuesday morning and several items seized — including a pipe bomb, drone and baton — during searches of a car and house.

They are expected to be charged with several offences later in the day. Police allege the pair were left aggrieved after a driver tooted their horn at the woman who was behind the wheel in a Warrawong car park — near Port Kembla — on February 22.

It’s understood the woman then allegedly followed the car and recorded the number plate before trying to file a complaint to police.

That was followed by a barrage of online harassment and intimidation by the couple — including death threats, police will allege.

The escalating campaign ultimately led to the placement of a “sophisticated” improvised explosive device under the victim’s car in nearby Koonawarra on March 5.

“This was an act of grievance-fuelled violence,” Detective Superintendent Michael McLean told reporters in Sydney.

“The (initial) interaction was quite a benign one … and from that, continued this behaviour that clearly is not something which is acceptable and became quite a dangerous series of events.”

The NSW Police Fixated Persons Investigations Unit arrest the women and man over alleged car bombing and intimidation in Warrawong. Picture: NSW Police

The victim was not known to the offenders and the work done to identify them was “ingenious” and indicated a specific intent, Det Supt McLean said. He said the car targeted in the bombing was not destroyed but the blast had the potential to seriously injure or even kill a person.

AAP understands the man accused of planting the bomb works as a tradesman and has an understanding of electronics.

The Fixated Persons Investigations Unit — a specialist squad set up in 2017 to target potential would-be terrorists or lone actors — was brought in to handle the case after the threats continued.

During their investigation, police discovered the alleged male attacker was also threatening another store worker over an unrelated feud.

The man and woman are expected to be charged with multiple offences including using an explosive device with an intent to harm, stalking/intimidation, and using a carriage to menace, harass or offend.

AAP

The Fixated Persons Investigations Unit confiscated a number of items during the arrest. Picture: NSW Police