Man arrested as police investigate explosions and fire at NSW Central Coast legal offices

A man has been charged after explosions and a fire at two legal offices on the NSW Central Coast in what is believed to have been part of a targeted attack.

A police operation unfolded following reports a short “chubby” man had thrown what was described as firebombs at two separate businesses inside a building on Donnison St in Gosford about 2.20pm on Thursday — a Legal Aid Office and another local law firm.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Mass evacuations in Central Coast after explosions at office block.

The building was evacuated, while a building on the same street was later reported on fire.

A man entered the office before allegedly lighting a fire and fleeing the scene, police said. No injuries were reported.

Following a police search, a 66-year-old man was arrested at a home in Wallarah on Friday and taken to Wyong Police Station.

He was later charged with two counts of destroying/damaging property with intent to endanger life and was refused bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday.

Police earlier said they did not believe there were any wider threats to the community.

“I want to assure members of the public that based on the circumstances of these two incidents, we believe that this is a targeted attack and not a random incident,” Superintendent Darryl Jobson told reporters on Friday.

Jobson alleged the man had entered the LegalAid NSW office and ignited a small domestic LPG cylinder which sparked a fire.

Police are still working to find a motive for the attacks, which were described as “brazen” and “violent”.

“Motive is something we are very interested in … we’re keen to ascertain what that reason is,” Jobson said.

Paramedics treated a 54-year-old employee for smoke inhalation, with no other injuries reported.

A strike force has been launched to investigate the attacks.