Victoria Police’s tobacco war Taskforce Lunar probing shooting of house on Mills St in Altona North

Victoria Police’s Taskforce Lunar, charged with ending the state’s tobacco war, is probing the shooting of a house in Melbourne’s southwest which was blasted with a hail of bullets in an early morning attack.

Bullets fired into an Altona North home on Wednesday could be the latest in a string of tit-for-tat attacks in Victoria’s simmering tobacco wars.

Residents on Mills St woke to a hail of gunfire about 1.45am.

Police arrived a short time later to find several bullet shells and shattered windows at the single-storey family home.

The sister of a woman who lives at the home claimed a three-year-old child was among those sleeping inside when the shots rang out.

But police said no one was physically injured during the attack.

Victoria Police’s Taskforce Lunar is probing the shooting. Picture: David Crosling

Police at the scene on Wednesday. Picture: David Crosling

Shots were fired through the front window. Picture: David Crosling

CCTV footage seen by the Herald Sun showed a grey sedan driving towards the property before at least nine gunshots rang out across the street.

Members from the Taskforce Lunar, who investigate the state’s illicit tobacco warfare, were seen at the property on Wednesday morning.

The Herald Sun understands Wednesday’s attack could be linked to ongoing rivalries between major players in Victoria’s black market smoke trade.

It is believed the home in question is closely tied to one of the main drivers of the fiery chaos over the past two years.

The shooting may be linked to the tobacco war. Picture: David Crosling

The attack occurred about 1.45am Wednesday. Picture: David Crosling

The Herald Sun was told a three-year-old was in the home at the time of the shooting. Picture: David Crosling

The Herald Sun has also been told that some of that conflict has played out on social media in recent months.

Neighbours say it was not the first time the Mills St home had been under siege.

A luxury SUV, believed to have been owned by the occupants of the home, was set alight just days ago.

Residents said they were shocked following the ambush.

One woman said she now was too afraid to sleep in her bedroom, which faced the street.

“I’m really scared — I don’t want to say anything else because they’ll come for me next”, she said.

Another resident said: “We have kids and I don’t know what to tell them, I’m just in shock and I don’t know what to feel”.

Neighbours say it was not the first time the Mills St home had been under siege. Picture: David Crosling

As officers from the police ballistics unit investigated, multiple black dual-cab utes with tinted windows were seen circling the block repeatedly, with the drivers filming the scene as they passed.

Neighbours say the attack on the property owners’ BMW SUV two weeks ago had raised suspicions that they were being targeted, but one resident said “we never expected something like this”.

“This is next level”, she added.

Police continued to investigate late into the morning while residents remain on high alert.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or with dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au