Dunedin mum gets bomb confession from son

File Photo / NZ Herald

A Dunedin teen has confessed to throwing a homemade bomb from a moving van after his mother called police to say he might be involved in the incident which terrified a woman and her two young children.

The woman was using an ATM on Main South Road in suburban Green Island about 4.30pm yesterday when the device, a 10cm cardboard cylinder wrapped in green insulation tape and filled with an explosive, was hurled from a green Toyota Hiace, Senior Sergeant Steve Aitken told NZPA.

The bomb exploded next to her car, frightening her and her seven and nine-year-old children.

"Both (the woman) and the children were upset, obviously it was quite a loud bang and very close to them," Mr Aitken said.

Mr Aitken said a 17-year-old man confessed to throwing the device after his mother confronted him about the incident.

The mother read about the bomb in a local newspaper today and recognised the description of the van.

She then "obtained a confession" and called police.

Mr Aitken said the teenager was being spoken to by police and was likely to face charges under the Firearms Act.

"This is pretty random, particularly round this time of year," he said.

"Generally around Guy Fawke's you get the odd one or two incidents where people tape fireworks together and try and explode them but this is certainly unusual.

"The potential for someone receiving injury was quite high."

Mr Aitken said he was keen to speak to man who came to the woman's aid, picking up the device and saying he would take it to police.

- NZPA