New suspects have been identified in the hunt for the people behind the bombing of the National Crime Authority in 1994.
Partial fingerprints have been taken to a world-leading forensics institute in the Netherlands, Major Crime officer-in-charge Detective Superintendent Des Bray said on Tuesday.
Police also now know the make-up of the bomb that killed Detective Sergeant Geoffrey Leigh Bowen when it exploded at the CPS Credit Union Building on Waymouth St, Adelaide, on Wednesday, March 2, 1994.
Nearly 100 items connected with the case have been re-evaluated and 65 have been taken to the world-leading Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) for further examination.
“We have a more complete understanding of the circumstances leading up to the bombing and what happened after,” he said.
“We also know the offenders tried to find out the home address of Detective Sergeant Bowen prior to the bomb being delivered to his workplace.
“Several people with the surname of Bowen were contacted across Australia, and we believe that originally it was intended to deliver the bomb to his family home.
“If that had happened the result could have been catastrophic as he had a wife and young family – there could have been four fatalities instead of one.
“We believe it is likely that other people with the same surname were contacted in the month prior to the bombing on March 2, 1994.
“We’re asking people whose surname is Bowen to reflect back in time – if you remember any suspicious calls please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”
A reward of $1 million has been issued for information leading to a conviction.
Detective Superintendent Bray said investigators want to hear from anyone who may have unwittingly been involved in this crime as well as anyone who has withheld information or changed their evidence.
“We can work through those issues if they come forward and tell the truth,” he said.
The bombing at the NCA office not only claimed the life of Det Sgt Bowen, but caused serious injuries to Peter Wallis, a lawyer employed by the NCA, and extensive damage to the building.
Anyone calling Crime Stoppers with information can be transferred to a Task Force Cornus investigator, or they can email Task Force investigators directly.
