14 July, 2008 11:37AM AEDT

Fireworks bomb explodes in Ballarat supermarket carpark

A homemade bomb made from fireworks is thrown from the roof of a sueprmarket in downtown Ballarat, damaging a car and scaring customers and residents alike.

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At approximately 7.20pm on Sunday night the sounds of an explosion rocked the neighborhoods surrounding the two big supermarkets in downtown Ballarat. Eyewitnesses talking to police reported a 'fizzing device' thrown from the rooftop carpark of the supermarket to the street immediately below, which detonated, causing shrapnel damage to a car parked in front of the Italian restaurant next door to the supermarket.

"The investigations have shown it was most likely a commercially manufactured firework, it wasn't a bomb. It was most likely a large firework that has been thrown or dropped into the area," says Ballarat-based officer Inspector Ian Davis.

The car's owner was inside the supermarket shopping with his wife and son at the time of the explosion. The blast was strong enough dent the car, and pop out an indicator light.

Police took statements from a number of eyewitnesses who watched the incident and saw the individuals responsible leave immediately afterwards. Inspector Ian Davis says the investigation is ongoing and, if caught, the perpetrators will face serious charges.

"Very serious charges, for a start if it's just an ordinary firework, it's against the law to have fireworks in Victoria," he said. "Also it could be criminal damage and other explosive type offences which are very serious under the Crimes Act."

The fireworks incident came after a weekend of vandalism, where 12 cars parked at the Ballarat train station were extensively vandalised, including having their windscreens smashed and their roofs stomped on.