A 36-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly attempting to set fire to a gas bottle and throwing it at a police car in Adelaide's southern suburbs on Saturday.

Key points: Police received reports of a man driving erratically towards the Southern Expressway

Police received reports of a man driving erratically towards the Southern Expressway The police car was allegedly attacked when it arrived at the registered owner's address

The police car was allegedly attacked when it arrived at the registered owner's address The accused is refused bail and will appear at the Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Monday

Police said the Huntfield Heights man had been charged with a number of serious offences after also allegedly setting a fire on the front porch of a house as police arrived at the scene.

Police said they received reports of a man in a car towing a camper trailer driving erratically on Marion Road at Bedford Park just before 6:00pm, heading towards the Southern Expressway.

After attending the registered owner's address on Candover Crescent, police said the man allegedly attempted to set fire to a 9kg gas bottle before throwing it at the police car.

The bottle hit and smashed the windscreen of the vehicle while two officers were inside.

The man also allegedly lit a fire on the front porch of a house on the street before police restrained him and took him into custody.

After his arrest, a search was conducted at the man's house where police allegedly found a number of chemicals as well as a firearm in the man's vehicle.

Police guard remained at scene overnight

The 36-year-old man was taken to the Flinders Medical Centre for a mental health assessment but has since been charged with two counts of attempted murder.

He was also charged with two counts of assault, possessing a firearm with intent to commit an offence, possessing supplies to manufacture an explosive device, and possessing body armour and carrying an offensive weapon.

Police said one officer received minor glass cuts to their hands from the incident but only minor damage was caused by the fire.

The damaged police car had to be towed from the scene.

The man was refused bail and will appear at the Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Monday, April 1.

A police guard remained at the house overnight with crime scene examiners and drug squad detectives expected at the scene this morning.

Anyone with information on the incident has been asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.