THE TEENAGE victim of a hoax bomb threat in Sydney was told she would be blown up if she went to the police.
Madeleine Pulver (18) was chained to a sophisticated but fake bomb in her home in Mosman in Sydney’s north shore for almost 10 hours on Tuesday, before being freed at about midnight (3pm Irish time).
Local media was reporting last night that a two-page handwritten note pinned to her chest threatened to explode the bomb if she went to the police or if there was any attempt to cut wires. The note did not ask for a ransom.
"The note made no demand in dollar terms or ask for any type of action. While it was articulate and coherent, it didn't seem to have any specific demands," a police officer told Sydney's Daily Telegraphnewspaper.
“It did say ‘don’t go to the cops or I will detonate. Don’t cut the wires or will detonate’.”
The New South Wales robbery and serious crime squad is treating the incident as an extortion attempt and has set up an investigation strike force.
Ms Pulver’s father, Bill, yesterday thanked police and friends for their support.
“I can tell you that we, as parents, are extraordinarily proud of Maddie,” he said. “I think she has woken up this morning in pretty good spirits. She’s a little tired, a little sore from holding this damned device in place for about 10 hours.
“But she is now, as we are, eager for her to get on with her life . . . I sincerely ask you to respect our privacy.”
New South Wales assistant police commissioner Mark Murdoch said Ms Pulver’s parents could not suggest any reason why their family was targeted.
“They were at a loss to explain why them . . . why this had happened to them as opposed to anyone else,” he said.
Mosman is the wealthiest suburb in Australia, with an average household income of Aus$131,606 (€97,807). Former Australian rugby internationals Phil Kearns and John Eales are neighbours of the Pulvers on Burrawong Avenue.
The family bought their four-bedroom house with Sydney harbour views 13 years ago for about $2 million.
Mr Pulver is chief executive of technology company Appen Butler Hill. Company chairman Chris Vonwiller told the Australian newspaper in 2008 that “our customers are large IT firms and government bodies, including the US defence department. Appen is well known in Washington’s government agencies.”