Canberra arson attack on family home 'entirely bizarre', court told
A man allegedly threatened to kill someone and tried to set fire to a Canberra home with several children inside, in what a prosecutor has described as "entirely bizarre behaviour".
Aleer Aguer Aleer, 28, from Griffith, went to a relative's Amaroo home on Friday morning and allegedly set fire to a car.
It is also alleged he tried to set fire to the home's power box.
Facts before the ACT Magistrates Court stated that seven children and two adults were at home at the time, and that Aleer had earlier been refused a $500 loan by one of the occupants.
The prosecution alleged Aleer also threatened to kill someone at the address and bomb the house.
Witnesses told police they saw Aleer using a rolled up newspaper and a cigarette lighter to start the fires.
It is also alleged Aleer knocked a man to the ground while holding a knife and kicked a woman in the back.
The man who was attacked later flagged down a passing driver, who called emergency services.
Aleer is yet to enter pleas to five charges, including two counts of arson, two of common assault and one of property damage.
Magistrate Robert Cook said he was concerned Aleer may reoffend if given bail.
He granted the prosecution's request to issue an order requiring Aleer to undergo a clinical medical assessment, to determine if he needed immediate treatment because of mental health issues before he returned to court.
