A fire at Power Gymnasium in Brunswick has been deemed suspicious
Police say a blaze that destroyed a Brunswick gym connected to gangland figure Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim is being treated as suspicious.
Police & Courts
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A fire which ripped through a gym linked to gangland figure Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim was suspicious, police say.
The cause of Friday morning’s blaze at the Power Gymnasium in Brunswick had initially been assessed as unclear and an arson chemist was sent in that day to inspect the scene.
A Victoria Police spokesman said on Tuesday: “The fire has been deemed suspicious and investigations remain ongoing.
It is not clear what has been found to have the matter treated as suspicious.
Four businesses connected with former Mongol bikie Abdulrahim have been damaged by fire since June.
Power Gymnasium said on Instagram in the hours after the fire that it was caused by an electrical fault in the reception area.
It said the gym would be closed for a few days.
“Please do not feel threatened or intimidated. We look forward to welcoming you all back very soon,” the post said.
A tobacconist shop linked to Abdulrahim was firebombed three times in a matter of weeks in the middle of this year.
Those attacks are suspected of being part of a turf war for control of the illicit tobacco trade which has resulted in a wave of 27 arsons across Melbourne since March of this year.
The fires followed a turbulent period for Abdulrahim.
In April last year, he and a number of other big-name Mongol members left the outlaw motorcycle gang.
Two months later, he was almost killed when gunmen riddled him with bullets as he sat in his car at his cousin’s funeral.
The suspected shooters behind that ambush fled Australia shortly after pouncing on Abdulrahim at the Fawkner Cemetery.
Anyone with information on the Power Gymnasium fire can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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