Bailey Hobbs fronts court over firebombing of a Sunshine business

A Sunshine man and Finks bikie believed to be part of a group allegedly involved in a string of firebombings across Melbourne torched Sunshine tobacco store.

A Finks bikie arrested in relation to a spate of firebombings of tobacco stores across Melbourne has pleaded guilty to the arson of a business in Sunshine.

Bailey Hobbs, 24, of Sunshine, made a brief appearance in the County Court on Wednesday via a prison link and pleaded guilty to charges of arson, possession of methylamphetamine and handling a stolen bank card.

He was remanded back in custody for a plea hearing on February 3, 2025.

Hobbs and four others were arrested in January over the firebombings, including an arson attack on an Altona tobacconist that was targeted twice in 24 hours as well as arson attacks on an Altona cafe and tobacco stores in Moe, Croydon and Sunshine.

A car was used to ram the front door of this tobacco store in Altona before it was firebombed. Picture: David Crosling

Others arrested were Murat Shomshe, 42, of Werribee, Stan Zanakas, 30, of Templestowe, Albion’s Nicholas Kirby, 32, and Ben Valerio, 37, from Point Cook.

Shomshe pleaded guilty in October to two charges of arson and one of committing an offence while on bail.

The court heard that while Shomshe was not directly involved in the firebombings, he instigated them by being in frequent contact through text messages with alleged co-offender Mr Zanakas.

Shomshe attributed his offending to the daily use of ice and the trauma of witnessing his twin brother being shot dead in Kosovo when he was 12.

The others have yet to enter pleas.

Police believe the syndicates responsible for tobacco wars are comprised of people from Middle Eastern organised crime groups and outlaw motorcycle gangs, who are then engaging local networked youth, street gangs and other low-level criminals to carry out the offending.