Australian police Saturday said a suspicious item, believed to be a crude improvised explosive device, found near the Sydney home of cricketer Brad Haddin appeared to have been left there randomly.
A neighbour called police after discovering the item on a grassy patch of road in the suburb of Tennyson Point, northwest of Sydney’s central business district on Friday.
“There is nothing at this time to indicate this incident is anything other than random,” Ryde area commander Superintendent John Duncan said.
“The item is not sophisticated.
“All the indications at this stage of our investigation suggest that whoever had possession of this item has discarded it on the nature strip.”
Police were unable to give any further details but the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said it understood that authorities removed two butane canisters with a wick attached. There were indications that an attempt had been made to light it, the ABC added.
Cricket Australia said Haddin, 37, who pulled out of the second Ashes Test against England on Tuesday for family reasons, was still overseas.
“He is safe with his family in the UK,” a spokesman told Australian Associated Press.
Skipper Michael Clarke has said he expected Haddin, who is staying on tour, to feature again in the series.
It was not the first time Haddin has withdrawn for family reasons. In 2012 he took several months out of the game after his then 17-month-old daughter Mia was diagnosed with neuroblastoma — a rare form of cancer.
As his daughter’s condition improved, Haddin returned to international cricket during Australia’s losing 2013 Ashes tour of England.
The wicketkeeper reportedly bought the house in 2010 for Aus$3.05 million (US$2.25 million at present rates).