Home>News Center>China | ||
3 arrested for bombing Chinese restaurants Two men and a teenage boy have been arrested in connection with the fire bombings of three Chinese restaurants in Perth, capital of Western Australia, a week ago. Joshua Benjamin McDonald, 19 years old, and Brian Geffrey Tindley, 21 years old, appeared in East Perth Local Court Saturday, Western Australian police announced. The two men have been charged with three counts of criminal damage by fire and three counts of aggravated burglary. Police raided a number of properties in Perth's southern suburbs Friday night following tip-offs from the public and arrested the two men. A third 17-year-old was arrested Saturday and charged with the same offenses. He was bailed to appear in Perth Children's Court on Monday. Three Chinese restaurants at south suburban Yangebup, Willeton and Spearwood districts were firebombed on Feb. 1, causing A$55,000 (US$41,000) of damage. No one was injured. The scenes were painted with swastikas, leading to speculation that the arsons were racially-motivated. Prime Minister John Howard and Western Australian authorities have condemned the arsons. And Asian communities in Perth held a meeting on Feb. 3 to call for a crackdown on such crimes. Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio reported Saturday that police will continue to investigate whether the three are involved with an organized group, although Western Australian police Commissioner Barry Matthews said it is unlikely. |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||