Black Canvas Barbershop gutted in suspicious fire, police establish crime scene

A Brisbane barber shop linked to alleged Gold Coast bikie Harley Barbaro has been gutted by a suspicious fire overnight with police establishing a crime scene.

A crime scene has been established after a Brisbane barber shop run by alleged Gold Coast Mongols bikie Harley Barbaro was gutted by fire overnight.

Emergency services were called to Creek Rd, Carina, about 1.40am where they found Black Canvas Barbershop well alight.

The Carina shopping complex where a barber shop was gutted by a suspicious fire overnight.

The Courier-Mail understands the fire started in a roof cavity, causing smoke to flow into adjacent shops in the complex, which on Tuesday morning remained closed.

Police have deemed the fire suspicious and a crime scene has been established. They are appealing for anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward.

Barbaro manages the Black Canvas Barber Shop franchise which has several businesses across South East Queensland, including one in Windaroo, Logan, which was also destroyed by fire in June last year.

The brother of slain Sydney gangster Pasquale Barbaro has managed the shop in Carina since it opened in August 2020, and is now promoting an opening on the Gold Coast.

The 29-year-old is not listed as an owner of the barber shop.

Barbaro, who lives in Arundel on the Gold Coast, began posting Instagram stories on February 15 about a Black Canvas branch opening “soon” on the Gold Coast.

Harley Barbaro. Picture: Scott Powick

It is linked to a Black Canvas Gold Coast profile, which has posted Instagram stories but has no permanent posts.

Barbaro appeared in Southport Magistrates Court in early March, one of five men charged with an alleged assault outside the Iron Asylum Gym in Helensvale on February 28.

All five men are charged with assault occasioning bodily harm in company and while a member of a criminal organisation.

Mobile phone footage of the evidence played to the court appears to show a group of men punching and kicking a man while he tries to get into his car.

The court was told the attack was arranged after the man allegedly threatened to shoot a woman and burn her business down.

Barbaro was denied bail.

Anyone who witnesses any suspicious activity in the Creek Rd and Zahel St area are asked to contact police.

Investigations are ongoing.