A teenager has been charged after 20 needles were found protruding from a Melbourne train seat on Tuesday.
The 16-year-old boy from Fawkner, a suburb in Melbourne, has been charged with intentionally causing injury, recklessly causing injury, assault, assault with a weapon and committing and indictable offence while on bail, reports 9News.
- Needles sticking out from Melbourne train seat causes concern
- Aussie strawberry industry still suffering after needle scare
It comes after commuter Anthony Artusa posted on Twitter that he had sat down on a seat with what he estimated were 20 needles sticking out on a Metro Trains City Loop train.
In the tweet, Mr Artusa said: "Word of warning when travelling on @metrotrains. Had a lovely surprise this morning when I sat on a seat with around 20 needles sticking out of it. #NeedlesofMelbourne."
Victoria Police and Metro Trains responded to the tweet, stating they were interested in hearing more.
Police now say they also believe another man was injured by the needles roughly 90 minutes before Mr Artusa found the needles, earlier calling the stunt by the alleged perpetrator "appalling" and "dangerous".
"My warning is to those who even think about doing something like this, you are being watched you will be caught," said Insp Andrew Gustke from Victoria Police.
Insp Gustke had earlier said the person responsible could face up to 10 years in prison.
The boy in custody will appear at a children's court at a late date.
Users on social media had expressed their disgust after Mr Artusa posted about his experience.
"Nefarious act. Thank you for highlighting," said one person, while another said they were always concerned about needles in train seats and brushed their hand over the seats to check.
It follows widespread panic last year when strawberries across the ditch were found to have had needles placed in them. Several copycat contaminations were also found, and as a result much of the fruit had to be put to waste.
A Queensland farm worker was later charged in connection to the strawberry scare.
Newshub.
