Darwin shopping trolley attack explosion injures 15

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Rob Kendrick, commander Northern Territory police: "There's been an explosion after this person entered"

Fifteen people have been wounded when a man pushed a shopping trolley loaded with fireworks and fuel into an office building in Darwin, northern Australia.

Police say the suspect had surrendered to officials soon after the blast at 1100 local time (0130 GMT).

They told Australian media the attacker was a "disgruntled claimant" who had targeted an insurance company.

Firefighters put out the fire in the Territory Insurance Office building, on Darwin's main street.

Hospital officials said none of the injuries was life-threatening but several people had needed treatment for burns and smoke inhalation.

Panicked people

Emmanuel Gerakios, of Darwin, told public broadcaster ABC: "[The person] brought in two jerry cans in a shopping trolley and they actually poured it all over the floor and lit it up and they walked outside, they ran and everything went up in smoke."

Witnesses said they had heard a large boom followed by sounds like gunshots, before seeing smoke billowing from the building and panicked people rushing out.

Territory Insurance Office chief executive Richard Harding said the company had not received any threats before the explosion.

The building, in the commercial heart of the city, also houses a Woolworths supermarket.