Neither Michael or John where affiliated with any environmental organisation , however the bombing allowed opponents of the emerging movement to characterize all protesters as violent extremists . GW Kelly of the Forest Products Association said that the incident had been caused by extremists who " inflamed emotions with a campaign of bitterness and hatred , divorced almost entirely from the truth . " Premier Charles Court considered the bombing to be an act of terrorism whereas the WA Police treated it as " just " a criminal act . Both the Campaign to Save Native Forests ( CSNF ) and the South West Forests Defence Foundation ( SFDF ) distanced themselves from the bombing and reaffirmed a commitment to protest by lawful means . John Chester would later escape from Geraldton Regional Prison on February 3 , 1978 . Inquiries were made throughout Australia , with Sydney detectives suggesting he could be a suspect in the Hilton Hotel bombing . WA Police however thought it unlikely for him to have left the state , and a man hunt took place in and round Manjimup where Chester was located on 13 March . Chester once again escaped from the custody the following day and went into hiding in the bush . Chester made contact with a journalist and issued threats against the Premier Charles Court , mining magnate Lang Hancock and said he might blow up a woodchip train
Hilton Hotel bombing
Sydney Hilton Hotel bombing
Bunbury woodchip bombing