Two women charged after ‘bomb hoax’ at office linked to Avalon Airshow
Victoria Police charged two women after a ‘suspicious package’ was left at a Geelong office linked to the Avalon Airshow, prompting a response from the bomb squad.
Victoria Police has charged two women it believes to be protesters after a “suspicious package” was left at a Geelong office linked to the Avalon Airshow last week.
The charges come as a small group of protesters picketed the airshow’s second trade day on Wednesday morning, when the Royal Australian Air Force’s lethal stealth fighter the F-35A Lightning took flight.
Airshow organisers the AMDA Foundation has been plagued by ongoing protests in opposition to military exhibitors, including Israeli weapons companies.
Police were called to the AMDA Foundation’s office on March 21 following reports that two women had left a box inside the building before being removed from the site by staff.
A 52-year-old Grovedale woman and a 61-year-old Geelong West woman were arrested by detectives from the Geelong Crime Investigation Unit as part of their investigation.
“It’s alleged the pair, believed to be protesters, entered the business and placed a box at reception while chanting and filming,” a police statement said.
Police said the women left the scene before they arrived.
The incident prompted a major response as officers shut down the area and the bomb squad was called to investigate.
About 1.30pm, a bomb detection robot entered the office.
Police confirmed the package contained no dangerous material.
The women have been charged with intend hoax and trespass and have been bailed to appear at the Geelong Magistrates Court on April 22.
Police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
On Wednesday morning, protesters descended on Avalon airport, causing traffic chaos as a freeway exit was forced to close.
A group of 15 protesters was seen shouting “Shame on you”, “Free, free Palestine”, “We are the people” and “We won’t be silenced”.
Another sign read: “Arms dealers profit off civilian lives.”
Protest organisers Disrupt Avalon said they opposed the inclusion of Elbit, Lockheed Martin, and Thales in the show, claiming the corporations were responsible for “murders in Palestine, West Papua and Afghanistan” alongside “environmental destruction of Indigenous land worldwide”.
AMDA chief executive Justin Giddings said the protest had caused only a “minor delay”.
“Patrons attending Avalon this morning from Melbourne experienced a minor delay at the Beach Road off-ramp due to a small group of protesters,” he said.
Police had warned earlier in the week that they had planned a “significant” presence at the show, saying any violence at protests would “not be tolerated”.
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