Fed: Police release bomb suspect description

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-1998
Fed: Police release bomb suspect description

CANBERRA, Dec 3 AAP - Police today announced they were looking for a 43-year-old man over
Australias biggest known terrorist campaign.

Australian Tax Office staff nationwide were put on alert yesterday after more than 20
explosive parcels were found addressed to present and former tax office staff.

The alert was issued after an early morning letter bomb explosion at a Canberra mail
centre, injuring two postal workers.

A further 21 explosive parcels were located at the mail centre, while at least two more of
the potentially lethal devices had been found posted to homes in Sydney, and one in Melbourne.

The man sought by police was believed to be driving a blue 1985 Toyota Corona sedan with
ACT registration YPV 276.

Police thought the vehicle may have been driven between Canberra and Wollongong.

The suspect was described as 175cm, slim build with short brown hair, possibly having a
moustache, and wearing blue jeans and a white shirt.

Unconfirmed reports suggested the man was suicidal and police issued a statement expressing
fear for his safety.

"Concerns are held for the well being of the occupant and safety of the public and it is
important that the vehicle be located as soon as possible," an Australian Federal Police
statement said.

Police were concerned more letter bombs could still be on their way to past and present tax
officials, sent by what they believe to be a disgruntled, disturbed person. Police were
investigating a common link between all addressees.

Federal Police Superintendent Geoff Hazel, who headed the initial response to the
explosion, said targets of the bombs could live anywhere in Australia.

"We tried to contact everybody who we believe may be part of the list but we may not have
got everybody," he said.

Tax Commissioner Michael Carmody said the vast bulk of the letter bombs were directed at
present or former tax office staff but though some were addressed to ATO offices, he did not
believe the tax office itself was a target.

"Theres no indication that this is some sort of systematic threat against the tax
office," he said.

Sources close to the investigation said the matter related to a personal dispute.

The ATO has taken steps to protect its employees and a national memo to its 17,000 staff
warned: "Please ensure that your families and others likely to open your mail are informed
immediately."

The bombs are in white parcels 11cm x 11cm x 2cm - about the size of a five computer-disk
package.

Each carries a typed address, a $2 black wattle stamp, a 30c crocodile stamp and weighs
about 100g. Each package has a return address but police have not yet confirmed its
authenticity.

The bombs are designed to explode when opened, although the device which exploded at the
Canberra Mail Centre went off when it was thrown into a sorting basket, slightly injuring the
workers.

AAP sc

KEYWORD: BOMB DAYLEAD

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