Eight men are charged over an alleged retribution attack gone wrong which saw a homemade bomb filled with aerosol cans, fire lighters and thumb tacks explode at the wrong house in Sydney’s inner-west, seriously injuring an innocent woman.

Police have charged eight men after an alleged retribution attack gone wrong saw a homemade bomb explode at the wrong house injuring a woman.

• The improvised explosive device went off when a woman went to investigate a fire on her balcony
• The 55-year-old was burnt and has suffered physical and psychological scarring
• The men arrested are aged between 17 and 20

The blast injured an 55-year-old woman on the front balcony of her home in Canterbury, in Sydney’s inner-west, in June.
Police say the bomb contained shrapnel and could have killed someone.
“It was an improvised explosive device (IED), consisting of aerosol cans containing a highly flammable substance,” Detective Chief Inspector Ian Pryde said.
“We also believe there was some fire lighters, sparklers, and there was also thumb tacks loaded in amongst that device.
“This had the real potential to kill or seriously maim a person, the IED was not sophisticated, it was very crudely manufactured,” he said.
Police arrested nine men after several raids across Sydney.(Supplied: NSW Police)
The victim noticed a small fire on the balcony of her home, and when she went to put it out, the IED exploded leaving her with burns to her face, neck, chest and arms.
“She is still suffering scarring, both physical and psychological from this incident, and remains extremely traumatised by the whole matter,” Detective Superintendent Paul Devaney said.
Police raided several homes in suburbs across Sydney this morning, and took nine men aged between 17 and 20 into custody.
Eight of the men were charged with a string of offences while one man was later released without charges.
Police believe the incident was a case of “mistaken identity” alleging the bomb was meant for someone who did not live at the house.
The men were arrested after homes were raided in Zetland, Concord and Fairfield.(Supplied: NSW Police)
“We’ll allege this incident was an act of retribution for an alleged theft of prohibited drugs belonging to criminal group members,” Detective Superintendent Devaney said.
“The 55-year-old female had no involvement in any offence whatsoever.
“These men are facing extremely serious charges, they’ve made a number of very bad decisions that have resulted in life-changing experiences for the victim involved,” he said.
The men will face various local courts over the coming days.