8Offences

8 Offences

(1) A person who murders or kidnaps an internationally protected person commits an offence against this Act and is punishable on conviction by imprisonment for life. (2) A person who commits any other attack upon the person or liberty of an internationally protected person commits an offence against this Act and is punishable on conviction: (a) where the attack causes death—by imprisonment for life; (b) where the attack causes grievous bodily harm—by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 20 years; or (c) in any other case—by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years. (3) A person who intentionally destroys or damages (otherwise than by means of fire or explosive): (a) any official premises, private accommodation or means of transport, of an internationally protected person; or (b) any other premises or property in or upon which an internationally protected person is present, or is likely to be present; commits an offence against this Act and is punishable upon conviction by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years. (3A) A person who intentionally destroys or damages (otherwise than by means of fire or explosive): (a) any official premises, private accommodation or means of transport, of an internationally protected person; or (b) any other premises or property in or upon which an internationally protected person is present, or is likely to be present; with intent to endanger the life of that internationally protected person by that destruction or damage commits an offence against this Act and is punishable upon conviction by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 20 years. (3B) A person who intentionally destroys or damages by means of fire or explosive: (a) any official premises, private accommodation or means of transport, of an internationally protected person; or (b) any other premises or property in or upon which an internationally protected person is present, or is likely to be present; commits an offence against this Act and is punishable upon conviction by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 15 years. (3C) A person who intentionally destroys or damages by means of fire or explosive: (a) any official premises, private accommodation or means of transport, of an internationally protected person; or (b) any other premises or property in or upon which an internationally protected person is present, or is likely to be present; with intent to endanger the life of that internationally protected person by that destruction or damage commits an offence against this Act and is punishable upon conviction by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 25 years. (4) A person who threatens to do anything that would constitute an offence against subsection (1), (2), (3), (3A), (3B) or (3C) commits an offence against this Act and is punishable on conviction by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 7 years. (4A) For the purposes of an offence against subsection (1), (2), (3), (3A), (3B), (3C) or (4), absolute liability applies to such of the following physical elements of circumstance as are relevant to the offence: (a) that the person who is murdered or kidnapped, or whose person or liberty is otherwise attacked, is an internationally protected person; (b) that the premises or property are official premises, private accommodation or means of transport of an internationally protected person; (c) that the premises or property are premises or property in or upon which an internationally protected person is present, or is likely to be present; (d) that the person whose life is intended to be endangered by destruction or damage is an internationally protected person.