Police on the Gold Coast have charged a man after a "suspicious item" was found at a mosque in Arundel on Sunday night and a bomb squad was called to the scene.
Officers responded to reports of the item on Allied Drive at about 8:43 p.m., and the Queensland Police Service’s Explosive Ordinance Response Team located the object and declared it safe, a police spokesperson said.
A 34-year-old man from the suburb of Labrador was arrested and charged with bomb hoax, trespass and obstructing police, Queensland Police said. He was remanded in custody to appear at Southport Magistrates Court on Monday. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Police said there was no risk to the community. The statement followed the deployment of the Explosive Ordinance Response Team to examine the item and confirm it did not present a threat.
Officers from local units attended the mosque after receiving the report, and standard safety protocols were followed while the item was assessed. No injuries were reported and the mosque remained open after authorities completed their examination, police added.
The alleged offence of making a bomb hoax carries penalties under state law. Police procedures in such incidents typically include securing the scene, evacuating if necessary, and deploying specialist teams to assess explosive threats, after which investigative steps focus on identifying and charging any person believed responsible.
Members of the public with information about the incident were asked to contact Queensland Police. Further details are expected as investigators continue inquiries and prepare the case for the magistrates court appearance.