A BUNBURY man has been charged over the haul of chemical explosives found in WA's South-West that sparked a major police operation.
Ben Roberts, 33, was today charged with five counts of making or possessing explosives, after two packages of volatile TATP were discovered in an Australind estuary last month.
Police said the packages exposed the public and emergency services to ``great danger''.
Mr Roberts was taken into custody after an early morning raid at his partner's Bunbury home on Friday.
Police road block on route to Peppermint Beach caravan park. Picture: Bohdan Warchomij
``They are as dinky-di Australian as you can get,'' she said.
``He's a bloody nice guy. He's good to my daughter, he's good to my granddaughter and he's a hard worker. You could say this has had an impact on the whole community. Everyone is absolutely gobsmacked. It's all very surreal.''
Army personnel and police on the Estuary in Australind. Picture: Bohdan Warchomij
This morning, Capel residents were told to evacuate Peppermint Grove Rd as police investigated a third suspicious package at a disused caravan park.
But by mid-afternoon they said they were satisfied that no further danger exists and everyone is safe.
Mr Roberts has been remanded in custody and will appear in Bunbury Magistrates Court on Monday.
Police outside the Hayes Street house, Bunbury, where a man was arrested early today over the Australind TATP haul. Picture: Bohdan Warchomij
Third suspicious package found
A THIRD suspicious package discovered in the region south of Perth where highly volatile explosive chemicals were found recently has been secured by the bomb squad.
Bomb squad technicians stayed at a disused caravan park at Peppermint Grove Beach in the Capel region overnight.
Police outside a house in Hayes Street Bunbury after a man was arrested early today in connection with the TATP explosives found last week at Australind. Picture: Bohdan Warchomij
It's understood police located suspicious materials at the caravan park but were not required to detonate the materials.
Roadblocks around the caravan park have been removed and residents have been allowed to return to their homes.
Forensic officers are combing the scene.
Wow that is scary! What a dumb thing for him to be doing.
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