By Belinda Nolan
A BRAZEN arsonist walked out of Sunshine Police Station after setting the foyer ablaze on Saturday morning.
The man entered the Ballarat Rd building at around 11.20am and took three Molotov cocktails out of his backpack, throwing them into the station’s reception area, causing several explosions and a small fire.
The attack caused chaos at the police station, forcing the evacuation of police officers, prisoners and members of the public.
Police officers arrested a 41-year-old Deer Park man outside the Detour Café on Harvester Rd within minutes of the blaze being lit.
Witnesses say the man walked calmly from the scene following the incident.
The station was shut down for the day and all calls from the public were re-directed to the Keilor Downs Police Station, while a temporary reception area was set up in front of the damaged station.
Fire-fighters from the Sunshine fire station were called to the scene where they extinguished the fire within minutes.
MFB Commander Ken Brown ordered the station evacuation.
“We were concerned by the levels of carbon monoxide in the police station so we ordered it to be evacuated until we could evaluate the situation,” he said.
“Then we ventilated the building to make it safe.”
It is the second time a Sunshine Police Station has come under attack, after the former police station on Sun Crescent was bombed in 1997.
Brimbank Police Inspector Michael Grainger told Star it was lucky no one was hurt, with three police officers and several community members in the foyer area at the time of the incident.
“It would have been a very frightening and chaotic scene,” Insp Grainger said.
“There were a number of fires and explosions within a short period of time.
“The fire was short, sharp and extremely hot as I understand.”
Victoria Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Neville Taylor was briefed at the scene on Saturday morning.
Insp Grainger said police would also be compiling a Critical Incident Report and would also review procedures and occupational health and safety at the station.
“It’s very, very frightening,” Insp Grainger said.
“The ease with which it was done doesn’t concern me. The fact that it happened concerns me.”
Insp Grainger said police officers directly affected by the incident would be offered counselling.
The station foyer will need to be refurbished, with the initial damage bill estimated at around $15,000.
Detectives from the Arson and Explosives Squad interviewed the man at the Keilor Downs Police Station.
He appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court yesterday, charged with one count of criminal damage by fire and seven counts of reckless conduct endangering life.
