UPDATE: Police say material found in the room of a sailor at a naval base was not hazardous, and the navy was expected to conduct an internal investigation into the scare.
The HMAS Cerberus training base was in lockdown after the suspected hazardous material was found about 11am, but police found there was no concern and cleared the scene just after 5pm.
A police spokeswoman said the investigation had been passed on to the navy.
A Defence source said that the man, who holds the junior rank of able seaman, had been undergoing medical support at the base before the discovery of the hazardous material.
The source said while there were no indications the man had any violent tendencies or political inclinations, a review of his social media postings and other recent behaviour would be carried out.
The material, which was found during a routine inspection of the man’s residence on the base, included quantities of diesel and fertiliser.
The able seman was from police custody later on Thursday without charge after the bomb squad determined the materials were not suspicious.
“All restrictions on the movement of personnel around the base have now been lifted and activities at the base have returned to normal,” a Defence statement said.
“Defence is providing support to the member who was questioned.”
Earlier, Superintendent Neil Paterson said police were called after the potentially hazardous material was found in the room of a 30-year-old.
The man is assisting police with their inquiries, and Superintendent Paterson said the material would be tested, but it did not appear to be explosive.
“It’s not a large quantity of material but the materials are hazardous and they are not normally found on barracks,” Superintendent Paterson said.
There was no immediate threat because of the material, but it was unclear whether the man had tried to hide the items.
Superintendent Paterson said the concern was that different materials were found together.
“It’s unusual to find these particular materials, together, on barracks.”
A Defence Force member had assisted police with the investigation, a Defence Department spokesman said.
This story first appeared in The Age
