16 Sep 2011

Fake bomb accused returning to Australia

4:07 pm on 16 September 2011

The man accused of placing a fake bomb around a schoolgirl's neck in Sydney in August has appeared in court in Kentucky, USA.

He waived his extradition rights and will now be taken back to Australia to face extortion charges.

Paul Peters, 50, is accused of having dreamed up the attack in order to extort money from the girl's father.

He was arrested on 11 August by FBI agents at the home of his ex-wife near Louisville.

On 3 August, a masked intruder broke into the family home of Madeleine Pulver, 18, in Sydney and threatened her with a baseball bat.

She was told to be still and had what appeared to be a bomb placed around her neck.

A bomb squad freed her 10 hours later when they found the device was fake.