A disgruntled Coles worker planned to burn down a Sydney supermarket after he was hurt during an armed robbery and his employer failed to heed his security warnings, a court has heard.
Andre Nord, 54, of Woollahra, allegedly bought chemicals over the past three months to make smoke bombs and cocktails of explosives to destroy the Coles supermarket at the Westfield Shopping Centre in Bondi Junction.
Police uncovered the alleged plan following a fire at Nord's Edgecliff Road unit yesterday morning.
Firefighters went to the block of flats about 7am (AEST) after reports a fourth floor unit was alight.
Nord was pulled from his unit by firefighters, who quickly extinguished the blaze and then alerted police after discovering chemicals and explosive devices inside the premises.
Nord now faces charges of damaging property by fire and possessing explosives with the intent to destroy other properties.
He chose not to appear in Parramatta Local Court today for a bail hearing.
A police statement of facts tendered to the court said Nord bought 20kg of compounds, including potassium nitrate, chlorine, and sulphur, to make home-made explosives.
He also is accused of having 31 devices suspected to be smoke bombs.
"The accused revealed the ingredients had been purchased by him over the past three months, June to September 2008, in order for him to carry out a plan to cause damage and destruction to the Coles supermarket located at Westfield Shopping Centre at Bondi Junction by setting off a smoke bomb and subsequently burning down the property," the statement says.
In April 2005, Nord sustained facial injuries during an armed robbery while working at a Coles Express store in Edgecliff, the court was told.
He has not worked since, but has received workers' compensation while remaining on Coles' payroll.
He had accused Coles of not providing adequate security to protect its employees, the police statement said.
It said Nord attended a workers' compensation hearing in June at which he made a violent outburst and damaged property after receiving what he considered to be an unsatisfactory outcome.
No formal action was taken by the commission.
Police say Nord felt Coles had treated him unfairly, prompting him to develop a plan to destroy a much larger Coles supermarket at nearby Bondi Junction.
"He does ... feel aggrieved by Coles for not having heeded his concerns about security within the store and his belief that the company does not tend to the welfare of its employees adequately," the statement of facts said.
Nord said he had not set a date to bomb the store and was not out to hurt any Coles' customers or employees, it said.
Police estimate the Woollahra fire caused $100,000 worth of damage to Nord's residence and considerable smoke damage to surrounding units.
He was treated in hospital overnight for minor burns and smoke inhalation before being charged by police.
Nord did not apply for bail in court today and is due to next appear in Central Local Court on October 7.
