The van caught alight outside the ACL’s headquarters last night and the explosion blew out windows.

9:30am

A van that rammed the Australian Christian Lobby’s Canberra offices and exploded last night has been called a “car bomb” by managing director Lyle Shelton.

Tweeting after the dramatic event, Mr Shelton reported all staff were safe after a van – allegedly filled with gas bottles – drove into the office’s main entrance. He has told all ten staff members to stay home today.

ACT police are investigating the explosion and it has not been officially determined yet whether the van was deliberately driven into the ACL offices. Mr Shelton posted images of the burned-out van online last night and described it as a “car bomb”.

Responding to comments last night, Mr Shelton tweeted that it was too early to tell if the event was politically motivated. “But we have received numerous death threats and threats of violence this [year] which sadly have not been denounced.”

The male driver of the van was the only person injured and he has been admitted to Canberra hospital.

Sky News reports that Mr Shelton has told Canberra reporters he is “emotional” and “confronted”.

“This is not the Australia I grew up in,” he said. “I never thought I’d see a car bomb attack a political advocacy in my lifetime.”