Perth man accused of attempted terror attack at Invasion Day rally to plead mental health defence

Liam Alexander Hall was charged after allegedly throwing a homemade bomb from a first-floor walkway on to a crowd gathered in Perth for an Invasion Day rally on 26 January 2026. Composite: WA Police View image in fullscreen Liam Alexander Hall was charged after allegedly throwing a homemade bomb from a first-floor walkway on to a crowd gathered in Perth for an Invasion Day rally on 26 January 2026. Composite: WA Police Perth man accused of attempted terror attack at Invasion Day rally to plead mental health defence Lawyers for Liam Alexander Hall say the 32-year-old is undergoing treatment in custody Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Lawyers acting for Liam Alexander Hall, a 32-year-old man accused of attempting to bomb an Invasion Day rally in Perth, have foreshadowed a potential not guilty by insanity plea. Hall was scheduled to appear before magistrate Matthew Walton via video link from Western Australia’s most secure psychiatric facility on Tuesday, but did not. Instead the case was adjourned until May. He is charged with engaging in a terrorist act, making or possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances, and one count of intent to harm or doing an act which could endanger the life, health or safety of any person. Hall’s lawyer, Simon Freitag, told the court they hoped to enter a plea in eight weeks’ time. “We have identified a practitioner [psychiatrist] who can do a report on Mr Hall in terms of a section 27 defence,” Freitag said. Section 27 of the Criminal Code Act provides a defence of insanity that absolves a person of criminal responsibility if a mental disease or illness has rendered them incapable of understanding their actions, controlling their actions or knowing they should not commit the act. About 2,500 people were at the Invasion Day rally in Perth’s CBD on 26 January 2026 when Hall allegedly threw a homemade “fragment bomb” filled with ball bearings and nails off a balcony and into the crowd. The device, which was allegedly designed to explode on impact, did not detonate. Hall is currently undergoing treatment at the controversial Frankland Centre at Graylands hospital in Perth’s western suburbs. The facility houses mentally unwell prisoners and those facing criminal charges. In the past, the Frankland Centre has been criticised by mental health advocates for its “inhumane” conditions. The centre is currently undergoing a $219m redevelopment. An independent assessment is required because a section 27 report cannot be completed by the accused’s treating psychiatrist. The court heard there had been some improvement in Hall’s condition and that the case is expected to progress to Perth’s supreme court. Hall is remanded at the psychiatric facility until 27 May. Explore more on these topics Indigenous Australians Australia Day Australian police and policing Perth Western Australia Australian security and counter-terrorism Mental health news Share Reuse this content