Incidents Disrupt Defence Conference at Canberra's Hyatt Hotel
On February 18, a series of incidents occurred at Canberra's Hyatt Hotel, which was hosting the ADM Congress defence conference.
Around 9 am, ACT Policing received calls regarding a disturbance. Two individuals allegedly threw rocks and a "suspicious item" at the hotel's rear doors, causing glass damage, before leaving on bicycles. The item was later confirmed not to be an explosive device.
Later, around 12 pm, "suspicious baggage items" were located unattended in one of the hotel's conference rooms.
No injuries were reported in connection with either incident.
Police and Emergency Response
Police established a crime scene at the location of the initial damage. For the unattended bags, police cordoned off the room and moved conference participants to an external area. Bomb staff cleared the items as a precaution, and the bag owners were subsequently located. The conference then resumed.
ACT Policing's Detective Inspector Dave Craft stated that police believe the initial acts were targeted, but there is no ongoing threat to public safety. The ACT Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) monitored the response.
No arrests have been made, and police are conducting inquiries, including reviewing CCTV footage for persons of interest.
Conference and Official Statements
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy, a keynote speaker, was among the delegates evacuated from the hotel following the report of a suspicious package. Attendees initially reported fears of gunshots when items were thrown through a window.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commented on the situation, urging people to "turn the temperature down."
"Those who break the law should face its full force," Prime Minister Albanese stated.
A spokesperson for Minister Conroy affirmed that while protests are part of democracy, they should always be conducted non-violently.
Planned Protest Activity
A protest organized by Students and Staff Against War (SSAW) ANU and the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) was scheduled for 4:30 pm on the same day at the hotel.
The organizers' demands include sanctions on Israel, removal of restrictions on Palestine protests, and calls for the government and ANU to cease collaboration with defense companies they claim are complicit in genocide, such as Electro Optic Systems (EOS) and Northrop Grumman.
Police have not confirmed any link between the morning's incidents and the planned protest.