The man allegedly started the fire at the Gungahlin Joint Emergency Services Centre on Thursday. Photo: James Coleman.
A man is alleged to have walked into Gungahlin’s emergency centre, poured petrol onto the floor and set it on fire.
Repairs were required after the fire was started in the foyer of the Gungahlin Joint Emergency Services Centre on Thursday afternoon (22 January), an ACT Policing spokesperson said.
At around 5 pm that afternoon, the man allegedly walked into the foyer with a jerry can, poured petrol on the floor, threw the can into the building, lit the petrol on fire and fled.
“The fire was extinguished by police and ACT Fire and Rescue,” the spokesperson said.
“No members of the public were in the station at the time and no one was injured during the incident.
“Gungahlin Police Station remains operational; however, the community in Canberra’s north who need to attend a police station are asked to attend Belconnen or City Police Stations while repair works are underway.”
Police reviewed CCTV footage and identified a 40-year-old man as the suspect. He was arrested at a home in Franklin that night.
He was charged with arson and committing an act endangering life before he faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday (23 January).
The court heard medical professionals recommend he be taken to hospital for a mental health assessment, but his lawyer, Legal Aid’s Eimear Silk, said he opposed that course.
She said he worked as a painter and would not get paid if he didn’t work.
Despite her submissions, Magistrate Jane Campbell ordered the man be taken for a mental health assessment.
The man, who has not been named while the assessment is underway, will return to court at a future date.
Original Article published by Albert McKnight on Region Canberra.
