A central Darwin shopping complex was rocked by an explosion injuring 13 innocent bystanders after a man threw a fire bomb into a bank.

The explosion is said to have happened at TIO Banking Office in the Woolworths shopping centre in Smith Street.

According to Nine News reporter Justin O’Brien, who was on the scene, injured customers were being treated onsite, mostly for burns and smoke inhalation.

This morning, shortly after 11AM, a man surrendered himself to the police.

Hours after the attack, dozens of emergency services workers and police officers were still in the shopping complex, sifting through the debris.

It emerged that emergency rescue workers had freed a man which had earlier become trapped under the rubble.

Police at the scene said that the shopping complex was busy with people at the time of the explosion.

The smell of kerosene was said to be still lingering in the air hours after the explosion.

Dave Lines, an NT fire brigade officer with Darwin station said that the complex was on fire when he and his crew arrived at the scene although it was under control thanks to the buildings sprinkler system.

Authorities immediately concluded that the fire had been started by a combination of unleaded petrol and fireworks. Police did not estimate necessary to send in a bomb detection robot.

It would appear that the man, probably a disgruntled customer, pushed a shopping trolley full of explosive material through the doors of the band.