WorkSafe ACT is investigating a fireworks display at a Greek Orthodox church in Kingston, which shook buildings and rang out loudly in surrounding suburbs at midnight on Easter Saturday.
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Police received up to 10 triple-0 calls concerning the loud blasts at the Greek Orthodox Church of St Nicholas, which could reportedly be heard as far away as Gunghalin and Woden.
Young congregation members let off fireworks and fire crackers as they exited the church building, where more than 2000 faithful gathered for a traditional evening service to celebrate Greek Orthodox Easter.
ACT Work Safety Commissioner Mark McCabe said officers had collected some discarded fireworks from the site as part of the investigation.
''We've undertaken some investigations since the weekend and we've secured some physical evidence from the site and have spoken to the parties involved.''
Nearby residents had likened the fireworks display to bomb blasts and cannon fire.
A witness said it sounded like Canberra was ''under attack and in a war zone'' and said they ''were so loud they set off car alarms.''
The complaints prompted Father Petros Kipouros to apologise to people who were disturbed by the incident.
''It's very sad for me,'' he said. ''Next year, I will try to give some advice to young people before, because it can also be dangerous.
''I apologise to the neighbours and next year we'll try to manage this event better.''
Father Kipouros said the fireworks display was traditionally organised by teenagers and usually lasted about 15 minutes. However, this year's blasts lasted about 40 minutes.
''This year it was a bit more noisy,'' he said.
''I knew that it was not so good for the neighbours at midnight.''
The church sent letters to neighbours, police and the ACT government a week before the event.
An ACT Policing spokeswoman confirmed police were told fireworks would be let off on the night but did not attend.
Mr McCabe said the church had not requested an application or permit for the pyrotechnics display.
WorkSafe was not aware of any other fireworks displays that went off at other Greek Orthodox churches in the ACT that night, Mr McCabe said.
He urged anyone with information about the fireworks to visit worksafe.act.gov.au.
