Moment drug boss Fadi Haddara’s Karizma restaurant set on fire

Two men dressed in black smash the restaurant’s windows before pouring accelerant inside and setting it alight.

Horrifying footage shows the moment a Melbourne restaurant owned by a convicted drug boss is set on fire.

The Middle Eastern restaurant Karizma, located on the Newquay Promenade in Docklands, is owned by underworld boss Fadi Haddara.

It was targeted in two separate arson attacks last month, first on November 18 and then two days later on November 20.

Emergency services were called to the first incident about 2.40am when it’s believed individuals smashed a window to gain access to the inside of the premises.

On November 20, two individuals poured accelerant inside the restaurant before setting it alight. Picture: Supplied

They poured accelerant inside and set it alight, causing “significant smoke and water damage” to the business.

While no one was inside the restaurant at the time, about 60 residents living in apartments above the venue were forced to evacuate.

Just two days later, about 2am on November 20, two men dressed in black were spotted on CCTV footage approaching the restaurant with two jerry cans.

They poured accelerant into the restaurant and set it on fire, at which point there was a large explosion.

The horrifying vision shows one of the men being engulfed in flames as the fire took off.

“One of those males probably would have been injured in that explosion,” Detective Inspector Graham Banks told the media on Tuesday.

Police believe one of the men was injured in the explosion. Picture: Supplied

In this second incident, the business was completely destroyed.

No one was inside the restaurant at the time, although the residents of the adjacent apartments were again evacuated.

“(They were) definitely concerned about what occurred,” Inspector Banks said.

Detectives believe the fire is linked to a string of arson attacks, primarily targeting tobacco stores across the state over the past eight months.

It’s believed organised crime syndicates have been engaged in an ongoing battle for control over the illicit tobacco market.

“We believe (the second fire has) been tasked by the same syndicate, whether it’s the same men we’re not certain of that,” Inspector Banks said.

“We believe the syndicate that has directed the crimes believes that restaurant is in some way shape connected to another syndicate.

“That is why we believe they have targeted it.”

The men were dressed in dark clothing and were carrying yellow and red jerry cans. Picture: Supplied

Inspector Banks appealed to any witnesses or members of the public who might have dashcam footage of either incident to come forward.

“It is only sheer luck on both these occasions that none of the people living in the apartments above this restaurant were killed or their homes completely destroyed,” he said.

“This particular attack goes to show it’s not just about control of a market but also there’s a significant amount of animosity between the two groups.

“We are doing everything we can to put a stop to this before someone is killed, but information from the public is crucial.”

Both men in the CCTV footage wore dark coloured clothing, including hooded jumpers, and carried yellow and red jerry cans.

Originally published as Moment drug boss Fadi Haddara’s Karizma restaurant set on fire