Australian police have arrested a couple in connection with the explosion of a Bank of Queensland cash machine in the city of Brisbane, the latest in a spate of explosive attacks on ATMs in the country.
The man and woman, both 30, were yesterday charged with blowing up the ATM in Geebung on Brisbane's northside on Saturday. Before the attack, they are believed to have stolen two cars and "equipment" from a store.
Queensland police arrested the couple after finding a "sum of money" following a search of a car and a unit at a resort on the Gold Coast.
Meanwhile, counterparts from New South Wales (NSW) police executed search warrants at houses in Granville and Roselands, seizing a "number of items which will be examined further".
The man and woman were each charged with three counts of entering premises and committing indictable offence, three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count of attempt to destroy property by explosives.
The suspects were due to appear in Southport Magistrates Court today.
The arrested couple are known to NSW police, who have set up a specialist unit, Strike Force Piccadilly II, to investigate a spate of ATM explosions in Sydney over the last few months.
Police told reporters they are looking into possible links between the Brisbane incident and Sydney explosions.
In November thieves blew up four St George Bank cash machines with acetylene gas in Sydney, successfully stealing money from one. Police say they are investigating reports of seven successful attacks dating back to July this year.
"Our inquiries into the ATM explosions around Sydney are continuing," says State Crime Command Detective Inspector Greg Antonjuk, who heads Strike Force Piccadilly II.