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Adult, two teens face court over arson incident at Canberra home
Key Points
A western Sydney 17-year-old allegedly involved in an arson attack on a Canberra home has been granted bail in an ACT court, while his two co-accused did not apply for bail. Police say two males entered the Giralang home, used jerry cans to pour fuel throughout the house and then set it alight before fleeing the scene with a third male. The 17-year-old will return to the ACT Children's Court in late August.
A western Sydney 17-year-old allegedly involved in an arson attack on a Canberra home has been granted bail in an ACT court, while his two co-accused did not apply for bail.
Police say two males entered the Giralang home, used jerry cans to pour fuel throughout the house and then set it alight before fleeing the scene with a third male.
What's next?
The 17-year-old will return to the ACT Children's Court in late August.
Two teenagers and an adult from western Sydney have faced court for allegedly storming a home in Canberra's north, pouring fuel throughout it and setting it alight on Friday.
The two female residents had to flee the home on Gidjili Place in Giralang.
The ACT Children's Court heard the residents remain in hospital and are "extremely scared".
Police say the home has been the target of previous arson attacks, and they are investigating links between the incidents.
The residents said two males entered the home and poured jerry cans of fuel around the house, before lighting it.
Through witnesses and CCTV, police established the pair had fled in a silver sedan driven by a third male.
They traced the car to the Federal and Hume Highways, and it was stopped by NSW Police.
Police say a search of the car revealed lighters, face coverings and fuel-soaked clothes that matched those worn by the alleged offenders.
'Incredibly serious charges': magistrate
All three males were arrested and faced courts in NSW for extradition to the ACT.
The 18-year-old and two 17-year-olds were charged with arson and acts endangering life — throwing an inflammable substance.
Today the trio faced court in the ACT, where the 18-year-old and one of the 17-year-olds did not apply for bail.
The other 17-year-old was granted bail in the ACT Children's Court.
Magistrate Amy Begley said he faced "incredibly serious charges" but granted bail as it was not in his "best interests to be remanded in custody".
His bail conditions require him not to return to the ACT unless for court dates, impose a curfew at his western Sydney home, and prevent him from coming within 100 metres of his alleged co-offenders or the alleged victims.