A tobacco store in Melbourne’s north has been set ablaze for a second time as police continue to probe a spate of targeted arson attacks linked to organised crime wars over the illicit tobacco trade.
Emergency services responded to reports of the fire on West Street, Hadfield, about 3.30am on Wednesday morning.
Detective Superintendent Janet Stevenson confirmed at a press conference later on Wednesday that police believed the fire was linked to more than 30 arson attacks on tobacco stores dating back to March.
“At this stage, it’s believed to be targeted. And it has been deemed suspicious,” Stevenson said.
Taskforce Lunar, a dedicated national squad set up earlier this year to tackle escalating gang violence linked to the illicit tobacco trade, will investigate the fire.
The Hadfield shop had been partially boarded up with plywood after it was targeted in an earlier arson attack linked to the tobacco wars on August 30. In that attack, a vehicle reversed into the tobacconist, pouring accelerant on the floor before setting it alight.
A crime scene has been established again on Wednesday and an arson chemist and detectives are investigating this morning, police said. Tools, including a spanner, could be seen sitting on a bin within police tape roping off the shop.
Fire Rescue Victoria confirmed it responded to the small fire at 3.37am on Wednesday morning.
In August, this masthead revealed that Middle Eastern and outlaw motorcycle crime gangs were among syndicates warring for control of a lucrative racket extorting tobacco shops and torching those that did not sell their illicit tobacco.
On Wednesday, police also confirmed a separate fire that tore through a Brunswick boxing gym linked to ex-Mongol Sam Abdulrahim last week was now considered suspicious, but it is not believed to be linked to the tobacco shop fires.
The force initially declared early last Friday that the fire was not suspicious, but launched a probe later in the day after reports emerged that the gym was linked to Abdulrahim – who almost died in a targeted shooting when he left a funeral in Fawkner last year.
Anyone who witnessed Wednesday’s incident or has dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Coming soon: John Silvester lifts the lid on Australia’s criminal underworld. Subscribers can sign up to receive his Naked City newsletter every Thursday.