Wungening Aboriginal Corporation — Public Statement

Wungening Aboriginal Corporation acknowledges with deep concern the attack on the peaceful Boorloo/Perth Invasion Day rally on 26 January 2026, in which a homemade explosive device was thrown into a crowd of approximately 2,500 Aboriginal people and supporters. The device, which police have described as a fragmentation-type bomb with ball bearings, screws and explosive materials, fortunately did not detonate, but had the potential to cause mass casualties and loss of life.

We have heard from many members of our community who are traumatised, angry and fearful in the aftermath of this event. This was not simply an act of criminal violence—this was a deliberate attempt to target Aboriginal people and their allies while they were exercising their democratic right to protest and mourn.

We join other community organisations and advocates in calling on:

– Police and law enforcement to formally treat this incident as an act of terrorism and a hate crime under relevant Commonwealth and state laws, reflecting the political and racial motivations that this act appears to demonstrate.

– State and Federal government to urgently review the classification of this incident, ensuring responses to violence against Aboriginal people are consistent and robust.

– Mainstream media to accurately report the nature and seriousness of this attack and to acknowledge the fear and harm it has inflicted on the Aboriginal community and supporters.

This attack highlights a wider issue that our communities have faced for generations—the persistent threat of racially motivated violence and the uneven responses that follow. It also underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms to protect the safety, basic rights and dignity of all Aboriginal people.

We stand in solidarity with those affected. We will continue to advocate for accountability, justice and the proper recognition of this incident for what it was: an attack that merits the full weight of the law, and the correct terminology — including terrorism and hate crime — in its description and prosecution.

Wungening Aboriginal Corporation