Gold Coast, Brisbane tobacco shop fires: Warrant issued for arrest of Gleneagle man
Police have issued an arrest warrant for a man wanted in connection with fires at four Gold Coast and Brisbane tobacco stores, including one that saw a shopping centre closed for hours.
Police & Courts
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Police have issued an arrest warrant for a 34-year-old Gleneagle man in relation to fires at four tobacco stores in the Gold Coast and Brisbane.
Officers will allege the man deliberately lit fires at tobacconist businesses at Ashmore Plaza and at James Street, Burleigh Heads on October 11, at Elizabeth Street, Acacia Ridge on October 25 and at Wickham Terrace in Spring Hill on October 30.
It took five fire crews up to an hour to extinguish the fire at the Ashmore Plaza store, which also destroyed neighbouring businesses.
Emergency services had been called to the shopping centre at 3.53am – just under an hour after the fire reported at the Burleigh Heads shop.
The shopping centre was shut for a number of hours as a result of the blaze.
Severe damage was also caused to businesses next door to the store targeted in the Acacia Ridge incident, with a family-run coffee shop completely destroyed, and a dry cleaners, barber and post office also badly affected.
Neighbouring businesses were also damaged at Spring Hill, while residents of a nearby building had to be evacuated in the early hours of the morning as fireys tackled the blaze.
Police said the person they were seeking is currently in custody in New South Wales for separate, unrelated offences.
A Queensland Police Service spokesperson said the New South Wales matters would be dealt with before any application for the man to be returned to Queensland.
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