Two men allegedly recruited by ‘high-profile’ syndicate charged over Mount Pritchard Supermarket arson attacks
Two men have been charged over two alleged arson attacks on a western Sydney supermarket and a carjacking incident outside a fast-food restaurant this year.
NSW
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Two men have been charged over two alleged arson attacks on a western Sydney supermarket and a carjacking incident outside a fast-food restaurant this year.
Financial Crimes Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Gordon Arbinja, said police will allege the two men were recruited to carry out the attacks on the Mount Pritchard Supermarket on Meadows Rd.
“We will allege these two men were recruited by a high-profile criminal syndicate to carry out these arson attacks on the supermarket in a stand over attempt,” Det Supt Arbinja said.
“That criminal syndicate has come under the attention of Task Force Falcon, and as such, we are sharing all our information and intelligence with their detectives as well.”
About 1am on Tuesday, May 6, emergency services were called to the Mount Pritchard Supermarket following reports a car had crashed into the store and was on fire, allegedly causing about $100,000 in damages.
A month later on June 5, police were alerted to an early morning armed robbery incident outside a fast-food restaurant in Wentworthville.
Upon arrival, police were informed two unknown men, allegedly armed with firearms, approached a parked vehicle and allegedly threatened the two occupants.
It is alleged one of the armed men hit an occupant of the car in the face with his firearm before taking their vehicle.
Just after 2am the next day, emergency services were again called to the supermarket after reports a vehicle had crashed into the store front and the premises set on fire.
The second fire allegedly caused around $500,000 in damages.
Following both fires, the occupants of the vehicles fled the scene before police arrived.
Specialist police examined both crime scenes before that were referred to State Crime Command’s Financial Crimes Squad Arson Unit under Strike Force Barbalin.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives arrested a 22-year-old man in Merrylands at about 1.15pm on Friday.
A 23-year-old man was also arrested a short time later in Granville.
Both men were taken to Granville Police Station, where they were charged with robbery while armed with dangerous weapon, and aggravated break and enter and commit a serious indictable offence in company – not steal.
They were refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Saturday, June 14.
A separate arson incident on the supermarket in April is not being treated as linked to the alleged attacks.
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Originally published as Two men allegedly recruited by ‘high-profile’ syndicate charged over Mount Pritchard Supermarket arson attacks
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