National anti-racist organisation Democracy in Colour is demanding that the recent attack on the Perth Invasion Day rally be investigated as an act of terrorism and a hate crime.
On Monday, 26 January 2026, an improvised explosive device (IED) was thrown into a peaceful crowd of approximately 2,500 people at Forrest Place. The device was packed with volatile chemicals, ball bearings, and nails designed to cause mass casualties. While a 31-year-old man has been charged with making explosives and intent to harm, the response fails to address the clear political and racial motives of the attack.
Democracy in Colour National Director Noura Mansour said: “What we saw in Perth was a calculated attempt to cause mass harm to First Nations people and their supporters and should not be downplayed by the media and authorities. To treat this as a simple criminal matter rather than a targeted act of hate is a slap in the face to the communities living under the threat of far-right violence.”
Democracy in Colour stands in solidarity with the First Nations community in Perth and calls for an immediate federal review into the handling of far-right threats against peaceful protests.
We need a response that protects all racialised communities from the growing threat of white supremacy and systemic racism. A narrow focus on one form of hate fails to address the rising tide of anti-First Nations racism, anti-migrant racism and far-right extremism across Australia.
“The Royal Commission into antisemitism must be immediately expanded to include all forms of racism and far-right extremism. What we are seeing is not an isolated issue; these threats impact many communities, and any serious inquiry must reflect that reality,” said Fabian Yarran, organiser of the Invasion Day Boorloo Rally.
Media Contact: Kristyn Maslog-Levis kristyn@democracyincolour.org