Man arrested in Sydney after threatening to blow up daughter

[News_Editor]

Man arrested in Sydney after threatening to blow up daughter

2011-09-07 01:30:35 GMT+7 (ICT)

SYDNEY (BNO NEWS) -- A man was arrested on Tuesday after an 11-hour standoff in Sydney during which he threatened to blow up himself and his daughter, police said. No one was injured.

The standoff began around 9 a.m. local time when a 52-year-old man told a receptionist at the Arthur Phillip Law Chambers that he was carrying an explosive device and would detonate it if he could not speak with the attorney general. He then locked himself inside a barrister's chambers.

The man's 12-year-old daughter, who was with him during the standoff, reportedly shouted 'don't hurt my dad!' when armed officers entered the barrister's chambers at around 8.10 p.m. local time. The girl was later reunited with her family.

It was not immediately known why the man wanted to speak to the attorney general, but police decided to move in after negotiations broke down. He was not found to carry actual explosives.

"The efforts of police and other emergency services involved should be praised," said Assistant Commissioner Denis Clifford. "We thank members of the public especially those inconvenienced by the incident for their patience."

The man was taken to Parramatta Police Station where he was interviewed and charged with take/detain person with intent to obtain advantage, give false information-person or property in danger, remain in building with intent to commit indictable offence, common assault and three counts of destroy/damage property.

The man, whose name has not yet been released, has been refused bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday.

Tuesday's incident had some similarities to an incident in early August, when a 50-year-old man entered a multi-million dollar house in Sydney's exclusive suburb of Mosman and placed a device around the neck of an 18-year-old girl, who was later identified as Madeleine Pulver. After 10 hours, bomb experts determined the device was fake.

The suspect in that case was later arrested in Kentucky.

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