King Pets animals killed after firebombing hits Mahoneys Rd shop in Melbourne

Animals including rabbits, fish and birds have been killed in an apparent firebombing of a business near a pet shop.

Rabbits, fish and birds have been killed after an apparent firebombing struck an acai store in Melbourne’s north.

Victoria Police is investigating the suspicious fire, which engulfed a shop on Mahoneys Rd in Campbellfield about 3.40am on Wednesday.

The fire then spread to nearby shops, including the King Pets store.

King Pets suffered significant damage and police confirmed rabbits, fish and birds were killed in the blaze.

“Police are investigating a suspicious fire in Campbellfield on May 7,” police said on Wednesday.

The apparent firebombing hit the acai shop on Mahoneys Road at 3.40am on Wednesday. The fire engulfed the shop and also damaged the adjacent King Pets store and tobacco shop. Picture: NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

The furious blaze damaged three shops along Mahoenys road. Picture: Supplied

“Emergency services responded to reports of a blaze at an acai shop on Mahoneys Rd about 3.40am.

“The fire fully engulfed the shop. No one was inside at the time.

“The investigation remains ongoing.”

A string of small shops sit along Mahoneys Rd.

The fire gutted the acai store (to the right) and then spread to damage the pet store. Picture: NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

Victorian Police are investigating the suspicious fire. Picture: NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

Photos from the scene show the Mahoneys Groceries and Tobacco store, the acai shop and King Pets burnt out and gutted from the fire.

Victorian Police has been battling suspected underworld activity in Melbourne’s illicit tobacco trade for months, with several tobacco shops hit by arson attacks.

The Mahoneys road tobacco store sits next to the acai shop.

More to come

Originally published as King Pets animals killed after firebombing hits Mahoneys Rd shop in Melbourne