Perth citizens detain man accused of attacking woman with flamethrower while sporting swastika
A Perth man accused of attacking a woman with a makeshift flamethrower during a racist attack has been detained by citizens while he was allegedly wearing neo-Nazi insignia.
West Australian police had appealed for help to find the man who had a swastika painted on his head when he allegedly attacked the woman in the south-eastern suburb of Gosnells on the weekend.
Police said members of the public spotted the man in Gosnells on Wednesday night and detained him before calling authorities. He was allegedly wearing a red scarf with swastikas and other neo-Nazi images painted on it.
The 37-year-old was charged with performing an unlawful act with intent to harm and conduct intended to racially harass. He was due to face Perth magistrates court on Thursday.
The man is accused of approaching a 40-year-old woman and her teenage daughter outside a Gosnells shopping centre on Saturday night.
Police allege he yelled racial obscenities at the woman before attempting to burn her with a makeshift flamethrower made using a can of deodorant and a lighter. The woman sustained minor injuries.
“We are treating this cowardly and random attack on a woman and her child, doing nothing more than walking to the shops in the early evening, very seriously,” Det Sen Sgt Sean Bell said earlier this week. “This type of behaviour is not acceptable and is not tolerated within our community.”