Fire tears through gym linked to ex-Mongols bikie Sam Abdulrahim
Fire has ripped through a gym connected to prominent Melbourne gangland figure and former Mongols bikie Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim.
Victoria
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Fire has ripped through a gym connected to prominent Melbourne gangland figure and former Mongol bikie Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim.
The Power Gymnasium on Holmes St, Brunswick, went up in flames at about 5am on Friday.
An arson chemist was at the scene on Friday morning and the blaze is being investigated by detectives from the Merri-bek CIU.
“An initial assessment of the extensively damaged building this morning was unable to determine the cause,” a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.
Power Gymnasium posted on Instagram on Friday morning that the fire was caused by an electrical fault at reception.
The post said the business would be closed for the next few days.
“Please do not feel threatened or intimidated. We look forward to welcoming you all back very soon,” it said.
Police say early indications are that the blaze is not suspicious, but is the latest in a long line of fires which have hit Melbourne businesses since March.
Some are linked to Mebourne’s tobacco wars and others to a separate conflict involving underworld factions.
Abdulrahim has been on the wrong end of three previous attacks.
A tobacconist in Moonee Ponds linked to the kickboxer was hit three times several months ago.
That attack is suspected of being the handiwork of a syndicate fighting established illicit tobacco operators for a chunk of the market.
Anyone who witnessed the incident at Power Gymnasium, has CCTV, dashcam or any other information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
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