Constable Angela Rose Taylor

Russell Street Car Bombing

Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, June 16, 2026

1. Constable Angela Rose Taylor Marker

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Today marks 40 years since the deadly Russell Street bombing.

A special service will be held at the Victoria Police Academy to bring together survivors and honour the life of Constable Angela Taylor, who was fatally injured in the 27 March, 1986 attack.

Const Taylor, aged just 21, was crossing the street to collect lunches for her colleagues when a car bomb exploded outside the Russell Street Police Headquarters.

She died 24 days later, on 20 April, becoming the first Australian policewoman to be killed in the line of duty.

Another 21 people were injured

Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, June 16, 2026

2. Constable Angela Rose Taylor Marker to left of the Doorway

in the bombing – both police and community members – and a great many more bear invisible scars from that day.

More than 200 guests will attend today’s service, including Chief Commissioner Mike Bush, and Const Taylor's parents Marilyn and Arthur Taylor, supported by son Michael.

Other guests include Police Minister Anthony Carbines, Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation chair Mark Stone, Victoria Police Legacy chair Inspector Kate O’Neill and Police Veterans Victoria chief executive Debra Richardson, who is herself a Russell Street survivor.

Some of the more than 900 police graduates who have received the Angela Taylor Academic Award during their time at the Academy will also be there.

Const Taylor joined Victoria Police in 1984 and graduated as dux of her squad.

She worked at Oakleigh and Lilydale police stations before being posted to Russell Street, where her career – and her life – were tragically cut short.

She died in hospital, having suffered significant burns to most of her body in the explosion.

On 27 March 1986, an explosion rocked the Russell Street Police Headquarters and shattered glass in buildings a block away. One person died and 21 were injured in what was described as a ‘revenge attack' on Melbourne police.

While terrorism has been of international significance since the events of 9/11, in 1986, Australians were unfamiliar with the concept of explosions or terrorist attacks on their own soil. At 1.00pm in downtown Melbourne, Australia had a shock awakening.

The first explosion came from a parked car, which had been loaded with 50 to 60 sticks of gelignite – enough to wipe out all the windows in the front of the building and set off a series of petrol tank explosions in nearby cars. A policeman who was on duty that day, reported that:

The court was still sitting and we just heard an almighty bang. I raced outside and it was just a scene of carnage – there was a car on fire, there was glass everywhere, rubber all over the place and people were running and screaming. It was like nothing else I've ever experienced.