
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, January 27, 1994                   TAG: 9401270205
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA                                LENGTH: Short

SHOTS FIRED AT PRINCE CHARLES

Britain's Prince Charles, eager to boost his image after the breakup of his marriage to Princess Diana, has proved one thing: He can stay cool under fire.

The 45-year-old heir to the throne hardly flinched Wednesday when a young man ran out of a crowd, lunged at him and fired two blank shots from a starter's pistol during an outdoor ceremony marking Australia's National Day.

The prince saw the man run toward him and froze momentarily as the shots rang out. Afterward, he calmly adjusted his cuff links.

Within minutes of his assailant's arrest, Charles, unharmed, carried on with his speech. He joked with the crowd, and later assured guests at a cocktail party that he was fine.

"He played it cool. He wants everyone to know he is OK," said Sydney Lord Mayor Frank Sartor.

Police said the suspect, 23-year-old university student David Kang, wrote Prince Charles last month to complain about Australia's treatment of several hundred Cambodian boat people held in detention camps.

At a court hearing, federal prosecutor Susan Adams said Kang was "prepared to die" for the cause. Kang faces six charges under a federal law to protect international VIPs. If convicted, he could be imprisoned for up to 17 years.

Kang did not enter a plea at his court appearance today. Magistrate David Hyde refused to grant bail after the prosecutor said Kang had been seeking psychiatric treatment for depression.

The prosecutor said Kang had sent more than 500 letters about the Cambodian boat people, including ones to President Clinton, Queen Elizabeth II and media organizations.

by CNB