A man has pleaded not guilty to manufacturing pipe bombs that were planted on footpaths across Canberra’s north last month.

Damien Paul O’Brien, 41, was arrested after 15 explosive devices were discovered near Lake Ginninderra over several days in January.

The incident sparked a major police operation, with officers saying some of the homemade devices had been detonated before they were found.

Police allege they located items used to assemble pipe bombs during a search of Mr O’Brien’s Belconnen home.

During an appearance in the ACT Magistrates Court, defence lawyer James McGuire said Mr O’Brien would plead not guilty to the charge of unauthorised manufacture of a prohibited dangerous substance.

He is yet to enter pleas to his other charges of possessing a prohibited weapon and theft.

A black pipe beside a measuring tape.

A close up of a pipe bomb next to measuring tape that police allegedly found in a home in Belconnen. 

Police allege Mr O’Brien bought and stole items from the Bunnings hardware store in Belconnen to make the pipe bombs.

The court heard a report was being prepared by an explosives expert about the viability of the homemade devices.

The matter will return to the ACT Magistrates Court on March 24 for a mention.

Mr O’Brien has been behind bars since his arrest, and was remanded in custody.