Man charged after fires allegedly lit with gas cylinders in 'brazen' attack in Gosford

Police have charged a man who allegedly set fire to the inside of two Gosford office buildings yesterday using LPG cylinders.

The 66-year-old was arrested at a home in Wallarah at 1.30pm today and taken to Wyong Police Station.

This evening he was charged with two counts of destroying property with the intent to endanger life.

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Police said earlier today that a man wearing a backpack entered the first building, a legal aid office on Donnison Street, at 2.15pm yesterday with an "improvised explosive device".

Police said he ignited the device, described as a "small domestic LPG cylinder", in a targeted attack.

"That fire caused minimal damage, I'm happy to report there were no injuries at that location," NSW Police Superintendent Darryl Jobson said.

Jobson said the man then entered a second building on the same street with a "canvas bag on wheels" and ignited a second LPG cylinder.

"It would appear as though he has got another bag from a location we're not aware of," Jobson said.

"That bag has then gone with him into a building ... he's then got into an elevator up to level three, which is an area occupied by a private law firm."

"Similarly, he ignited a similar device ... being a small domestic LPG cylinder ... that fire was more substantial ... I would describe it as a moderate fire."

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Jobson said both attacks were targeted and not random in nature.

A 54-year-old employee was treated for smoke inhalation from the second office. No other injuries were reported.

Police said the incident could have had an "entirely different outcome".

"This is a brazen attack … violent behaviour that we will not tolerate," Jobson said.

They earlier asked the public to help identify a man in a picture they released from CCTV footage.

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"At this stage obviously motive is something we are very interested in, it's obvious there was a reason why the man went to those locations," Jobson said.

"We are keen to ascertain what that reason is."

The man was refused bail and is expected to appear in Parramatta Local Court tomorrow.