Melbourne convenience store burned in suspected firebombing

A convenience store has been engulfed in flames in what police say was a “targeted attack”.

Police are investigating a suspected firebombing in Melbourne’s inner suburbs after a convenience store was engulfed in flames overnight.

Officers allege the offenders broke into Harry’s Mart on Chapel St in Prahran before lighting a fire inside just before 4am on Thursday.

Police are investigating a suspected firebombing in Melbourne’s inner suburbs. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Staff inspect the fire damaged interior of Harry Mart on Chapel Street Prahran after an early morning arson attack. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

No one was inside the store at the time of the fire and the offenders fled before officers and emergency services arrived at the scene.

In a statement, police said that while investigations into the fire were ongoing, the blaze was being treated as a “targeted attack”.

It comes amid a spate of firebombings at tobacco stores and vape shops linked to control of the illicit tobacco trade.

Police speak to store employees. There is no suggestion they were involved in the fire. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Staff inspect the fire damaged interior of Harry Mart on Chapel Street Prahran after an early morning arson attack. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Victoria Police last month revealed as many as 60 of the 76 alleged arson attacks in the past year were at tobacco retailers.

Fire Rescue Victoria told the Herald Sun that the store was “fully involved” when crews arrived, but the blaze was brought under control in less than an hour.

Originally published as Melbourne convenience store burned in suspected firebombing