Fifteen people were taken to hospital in the northern Australian city of Darwin today after an explosion at an insurance office.
A man is in custody and the major crimes unit is investigating the explosion at the Territory Insurance Office, Northern Territory police said.
A "disgruntled claimant" was behind the attack, wheeling a shopping trolley containing three jerry cans and fireworks into the office, the Australian Broadcasting Corp reported. "This is not a terrorist incident," the broadcaster quoted Commander Colleen Gwynne as saying.
Four people were in a serious though stable condition after being treated for burns and respiratory problems caused by smoke inhalation, Kasey Brunt, a spokeswoman for Royal Darwin Hospital, said. The rest were stable and expected to be discharged later today, she added.
Six staff members were among those injured, Richard Harding, TIO's chief executive, said in a statement. "TIO has recently had dealings with a dissatisfied claimant," he said, adding the matter was referred to police.
TIO is Australia's only government-owned commercial and financial services provider.
Bloomberg