Smoke shop on Bonwick St in Fawkner set on fire in tobacco wars arson attack

Security camera footage has captured the moment two men dressed in black pull up in a SUV and set a Fawkner tobacco store on fire, as locals say they are scared but not surprised by the attack.

Footage has captured the moment two men dressed in black pull up in a SUV and set a tobacco store in Melbourne’s north on fire.

The footage shows a white SUV park out the front of the cigarette and lotto shop located in the middle of a retail strip on Bonwick St in Fawkner.

After parking, two men emerged from the car — one who appears to be carrying a jerry can — and move towards the front of the shop.

Flame and smoke can then be seen emerging from the side of CCTV shot.

Firefighters arrived at the shop about 2.30am Monday to find it fully engulfed in flames.

The shop was extensively damaged and smoke damaged adjoining properties.

CCTV captured the attack on the Fawkner store. Picture: Supplied

A store in Fawkner has become the latest to be burnt down in the tobacco wars. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

More than 100 stores have gone up in flames since March 2023 as part of a war for control of the state’s illegal tobacco trade.

The firebombings have since spread to other states.

Neighbouring cake shop Pasticceria Padova suffered smoke damage and was without power on Monday.

Adrian Iuele, whose family runs the shop, said he didn’t know when it would be able to reopen.

“It’s not looking good for the short term,” he said.

“It’s sh*thouse, we’ve got nothing to do with it... and now we’re up sh*t creek.”

Mr Iuele said the high price of cigarettes was driving the war over the illegal tobacco trade.

“I’m a smoker and when I first started smoking I paid $2.85 for a packet of cigarettes,” he said.

“I’m now paying $50 for a packet.”

Firefighters at the scene on Monday. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Emergency services were called about 2.30am Monday. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Local resident Tomas Di Pietro said locals were scared but resigned to shop fires becoming a common occurrence.

“People are terrified,” he said.

“Let’s hope we can do something about it — this was not unexpected.

“I just hope we can do something about it because it’s becoming endemic... people are walking on eggshells.”

Mr Di Pietro said new owners had taken on the burned store a few months before.

Multiple residents said they believed the arsonists may have been targeting the store’s previous owner.

“I feel sorry for the guy that took over,” Frank Ianazzi said.

“He’ll be beside himself.”

“I don’t think they’re going to stop these (fires).”

Earlier on Monday a separate blaze significantly damaged a factory in Keilor Park.

Fire Rescue Victoria crews arrived at a burning tilt slab factory in an industrial business park just before 1am.

Firefighters needed the help of an aircraft to put out the flames, eventually bringing the factory fire under control at 1.42am.

The cause of the blaze is being investigated.

Originally published as Smoke shop on Bonwick St in Fawkner set on fire in tobacco wars arson attack