CCTV of The Karizma restaurant, owned by Fadi Haddara, firebombing released

Footage of the moment arsonists firebombed a Docklands restaurant owned by a formidable organised crime figure has been released by police.

CCTV of the moment arsonists firebombed the Docklands restaurant of a Melbourne crime boss has been released by police.

The Karizma restaurant, owned by Fadi Haddara, was set alight twice within three days last month in attacks investigators believe were part of the city’s months-long Tobacco Wars.

Senior police say it was “sheer luck” no-one living in apartments above Karizma was killed or had their homes destroyed.

The footage shows two men in hoodies who are carrying red and yellow jerry cans of fuel moving towards Karizma just before the second blaze, at 2am on November 20.

Police have released fresh CCTV of the moment arsonists firebombed a Docklands restaurant. Picture: Victoria Police

Police say a window was smashed and the accelerant poured around the New Quay Promenade business before it was set alight.

The intruders then flee as a fireball – which destroyed the business – threatens to engulf them.

Taskforce Lunar, which is investigating more than 30 Tobacco War-linked blazes this year, is running the Karizma inquiry.

Lunar detectives believe a fire at 2.40am on November 18 is linked.

In that incident, a window was smashed and accelerant poured in.

No one was inside but the business but significant smoke and water damage were left behind.

About 60 residents were forced to flee their apartments located above Haddara’s restaurant as smoke billowed from the property after both attacks.

Taskforce Lunar Detective Inspector Graham Banks said it was “sheer luck” that no one had been killed since as a result of the two firebombings.

The Karizma restaurant was set alight twice within three days. Picture: Victoria Police

“Since this series of arson attacks commenced in March, one of the biggest concerns for police was that one of these fires would directly lead to one or multiple deaths,” he said.

“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.

“These incidents are utterly reckless and show a complete disregard for life or property.”

The pair involved in the second fire wore dark clothing, including hooded jumpers, and police have appealed for anyone able to help with information to come forward.

“We know there will be people out there who know who is responsible for these fires, either the lighting them or the commission of the offending, and we urge those people to come forward,” Detective Inspector Banks said.

A Docklands restaurant, owned by an organised crime figure, was firebombed. Picture: Victoria Police

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

“If you do know something, then now is the time to speak up and as always, this can be done anonymously.”

Haddara has previously been implicated in gun and drug trafficking and is regarded as a formidable organised crime figure in Melbourne.

A business with which he had previously been linked, A Class Smash Repairs in Williamstown North, was torched in October.

Police said at the time they would investigate whether that attack was linked to Tobacco Wars friction.

Haddara was arrested at A Class in 2014 as part of an Organised Crime Taskforce called Skyborn.

Anyone with information about the incidents should contact Crime Stoppers.