Man charged with Old Parliament House arson arrested over bail breach
The Victoria man charged with arson over a fire at Old Parliament House last week is already back behind bars, after breaching his bail conditions.
Australian Federal Police confirmed the 30-year-old, whose name was suppressed by the court, was arrested in Parkes in the ACT last night, and will appear in court again today.
Yesterday the man appeared in court, charged with arson after a fire was allegedly deliberately lit at the entrance to the historic building.
Firefighters responding at the fire-damaged front entrance of Old Parliament House following a protest. Andrew Ellinghausen
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He was given bail with various strict conditions, including he not attend the Aboriginal tent embassy or enter the suburb of Parkes, where Old Parliament House and the tent embassy are located.
Significant damage was caused to the front of Old Parliament House during the alleged arson attack, with nearby protesters heard shouting "let it burn".
The man was charged with arson and damaging Commonwealth property.
Three others were also arrested over the weekend.
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Old Parliament House on fire in Canberra. Heidi Murphy
One has been charged with three counts of assaulting a frontline service provider, another with one count of assaulting a frontline service provider and a third with hindering a Territory official.
The protests outside Old Parliament House were initially peaceful but soon escalated, with police having to use pepper spray on the crowds who became violent.
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