Man who allegedly took nunchucks into MP’s office charged

A man who allegedly carried homemade nunchucks as he threatened staff at a Western Australia state minister’s office has been charged.

The incident came amid heightened focus on MP security following an alleged targeted attack on federal MP Helen Haines, who lost both legs after being rammed by a four-wheel drive on Monday.

Police have stressed they believe that incident was isolated and not linked to any ongoing threat.

Officers were called to Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley’s electorate office in the Perth suburb of Victoria Park about 1.15pm (4.15pm AEDT) on Wednesday.

They were told a man was “making verbal threats while in possession of what has been described as nunchucks”.

Police rushed to the Albany Highway office and eventually found the man in nearby Bentley.

The 56-year-old was arrested.

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On Thursday, police said he had been charged with being armed in a way that may cause fear, threatening to commit an unlawful act, and possession of cannabis.

“It will be alleged the man made verbal threats while in possession of an improvised martial arts weapon (nunchucks),” police said.

He was refused bail and will appear in court later on Thursday.

No one was injured but the staff in the Victoria Park electorate office were left shaken and upset.

Beazley, the daughter of former federal Labor leader Kim Beazley, said her focus was on the welfare of the staff members involved.

“This afternoon, staff within my electorate office were faced with a confronting situation when a member of the public entered the office armed with a weapon,” she said, in a statement published by WAtoday.

“I have spoken to my staff, who are understandably shaken and upset by what took place. Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident.”

Outside parliament, she said her job was “wrapping my arms around my staff members and making sure that they're okay” and praised police for their efforts.

“I do want to say a really big thank you to the police who were on the scene in a matter of minutes, and had a person in custody within half an hour,” she told reporters. 

“That's extraordinary policing and the support that they have provided to my staff has been of great comfort to them.”

No charges have been laid.

Earlier on Wednesday, One Nation WA leader Rod Caddies said he received two death threats the previous day – one as he was leaving state parliament. 

“A man pulled up next to me and started screaming at me and told me he was going to follow me home and kill me,” he said.

Police are investigating both incidents.