Bully targets teen boy with bomb

The teenager who was supposed to have thrown the bomb was well known to police. Photo / Dean Purcell

Australian police are still waiting to speak to the teenager injured in an backyard explosion west of Brisbane on Friday amid claims he was deliberately targeted.

Michael Boggan, 15, has lost almost all of his fingers after a golf ball-like device filled with explosives detonated in his hands on Friday afternoon.

And Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale says Michael had claimed on Saturday morning the incident was no accident.

"The boy said to his mother this morning he was just sitting around the table with some other kids when this other kid ... came in and threw the device at him," Mr Pisasale told AAP.

Three teenagers were taken to Ipswich Hospital with minor injuries following the explosion and all have been questioned by police, although it's unclear whether any of those injured are the alleged culprit.

Until now, no charges have been made.

Police say they are still investigating but are waiting for a medical clearance before speaking to Michael, who remained in hospital following emergency surgery.

Mr Pisasale visited the boy and his family on Saturday morning and said the situation was heartbreaking.

"The last thing Michael did yesterday was go shopping with the stepfather to buy a Mother's Day present and as the father said this morning it's probably the last thing he'll hold," he said.

"The people of Ipswich are devastated that this would happen."

Michael's stepfather Michael Clifton said his stepson had been a constant target of bullies in the past.

"He would come home sometimes and he had been in fights with other kids and he's come home angry ... because no one liked him and they just kept treating him like crap," Mr Clifton told News Ltd.

"One of them didn't like him and this is what happens."

Several reports say the home-made device had been seen in the hands of a teen earlier in the day.

Mr Pisasale said if it was discovered the boy had been deliberately targeted with the bomb, even if the intention was just to scare him, stern punishments could be expected.

The teenager who was supposed to have thrown the bomb was well known to police and lessons needed to be learnt, he said.

"Unless they get consequences for actions at an early stage, the seriousness of their crimes get bigger and bigger," he said.

-AAP