No staff members were injured in explosion of van carrying gas cylinders as investigators rule out any political, ideological or religious motivation

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Police have said an incident in which a vehicle carrying gas bottles exploded at the headquarters of a conservative Christian lobbying organisation in the Australian capital of Canberra was not “politically, religiously or ideologically motivated”.

In a statement released on Thursday, police contradicted statements by Lyle Shelton, managing director of the Australian Christian Lobby, who had claimed he was “sure” it was intended to silence his organisation’s advocacy.

Australian Capital Territory Policing said they responded at 9:35pm on Wednesday to a report a vehicle had exploded and was on fire adjacent to a building in Deakin that houses the ACL.

“The driver appears to have ignited gas cylinders within the vehicle, causing an explosion which damaged the vehicle and building,” it said.

The 35-year-old male driver, not previously known to police, presented at Canberra hospital with burn injuries.

ACT Policing deputy chief police officer, Mark Walters, said the man remains in a critical condition.

“Police spoke briefly with the man before he continued with treatment. Police were able to establish the man’s actions were not politically, religiously or ideologically motivated,” the statement said.

Walters said the police were “confident” of this fact, but would not be drawn on how police had established this or the driver’s motivations.

He said “police are conducting a thorough investigation and there is no threat to public safety”.

Shelton tweeted photographs of a burnt-out van and said no staff had been injured.

Lyle Shelton (@LyleShelton) A vehicle has rammed our office in Canberra & exploded. All staff are safe. I do not know the condition of the driver. Prayers appreciated. pic.twitter.com/R1cKOIfMTC

Lyle Shelton (@LyleShelton) A closer view of the car bomb driven into the ACL office in Canberra tonight. Shocked that this could happen in Australia. pic.twitter.com/GxJQZLTFQr

An earlier police statement said that officers had responded to an incident “where a vehicle collided with a building in Deakin”.

“The driver was the only person injured in the collision,” it said.

“We know that someone drove a car loaded with gas cylinders at our office and detonated it and the ground floor windows were blown out,” Shelton told Radio National on Thursday.

Footage from the scene shows the building’s scorched carpark.

Rosie Lewis (@rosieslewis) The scene outside the #australianchristianlobby in Canberra @australian pic.twitter.com/IkuvP0JktJ

The ACL is the most powerful conservative Christian lobby group in the country. It has been campaigning against an anti-bullying program for LGBTI students in public schools, the possible introduction of same-sex marriage and abortion rights.

In comments to Radio National before the police statement, Shelton had said the motive was still unknown but explicitly linked the incident to death threats he claimed the Christian lobby had received and the ACL’s work against marriage equality and the Safe Schools anti-bullying program.

“Obviously ... you don’t just drive around the corner here at 10 o’clock at night, park a van loaded with gas cylinders then detonate it unless you’re trying to send a message to the ACL,” Shelton told a press conference at the scene.

“I’m sure it’s a message to intimidate us, to cause us to be silent in the public square, and that’s something we’re not prepared to do.”

In response to a message of support from the Conservative MP George Christensen questioning whether the incident was “politically motivated”, Shelton said it was “too early to tell”.

He added that the ACL had “received numerous death threats and threats of violence this year which sadly have not been denounced”.

Lyle Shelton (@LyleShelton) Thx George. Too early to tell but we have received numerous death threats & threats of violence this yr which sadly have not been denounced. https://t.co/g7mrvuIFG9

But political opponents of the ACL were quick to offer support. The Australian Marriage Equality co-chairman Alex Greenwich offered the Christian lobby “thoughts and prayers” and described the incident as “shocking and saddening”.

Alex Greenwich MP (@AlexGreenwich) Thoughts and prayers are with everyone at the Australian Christian Lobby, shocking and saddening incident.

Deck the Pauls 🎄 (@paulkidd) .@LyleShelton glad to hear everyone is safe. Despite your despicable attacks on LGBTI people and Muslims, violence is never warranted.