Lux nightclub hit ordered by tobacco kingpin’s mate

A popular South Yarra nightclub was torched amid “inflamed” underworld tensions fuelled by a growing alliance between major players overseas.

A popular South Yarra nightclub was set alight amid “inflamed” underworld tensions fuelled by a growing alliance between major players overseas.

It is understood that three brazen arsonists caught on camera torching the Lux nightclub on Chapel St in front of shocked onlookers last week were given the order from a figure who has recently developed close ties with exiled tobacco kingpin Kazem “Kaz” Hamad.

That figure, known to be most recently living in Dubai, is understood to have become linked with Hamad following Hamad’s release and immediate deportation from Victoria last year after serving a jail stint for trafficking heroin.

The three masked men, wearing all black, entered Lux about 1.50am on Thursday, carrying jerry cans and setting the venue alight before fleeing in a small blue hatchback towards Richmond.

Lux nightclub was gutted in an arson attack last week.

In footage exclusively obtained by the Herald Sun, one of the arsonists runs from the building with flames burning on his arms and right leg.

Underworld sources have also told the Herald Sun that the Lux arson attack was not the first time rivals had taken aim at its operators, who are also believed to be linked to the notorious Sin City strip club in Dandenong.

That venue was targeted on June 24.

Those involved in running the two venues are rumoured to be at odds with Salim Aschna, a kickboxer and trainer associated with the Fighters Xpress gym in Dandenong before that too was completely gutted by fire in June last year.

It is understood the three arsonists were given the order to torch the nightclub by an overseas crime figure.

Aschna jetsetted to Dubai as he launched a new, up-market restaurant in Abu Dhabi.

Meanwhile, arsonists have repeatedly torched the Narre Warren-based Skamma Gym in recent months, where the Fighters Xpress team have been operating since the Dandenong blaze.

Fighters Xpress staff firmly denied any links between the blaze and criminal figures at the time.

But it was soon revealed that Aschna had close ties with former Comanchero kingpin Tarek Zahed.

Fighters Xpress director Salim Aschna on board a private plane with notorious Comancheros kingpin Tarek Zahed. Picture: Supplied

Melbourne gangland figure Ahmed Al-Hamza has also been living in Dubai. Picture: Supplied

The Herald Sun does not suggest Aschna has engaged in any illegal activity.

He joins a growing list of figures with ties to the underworld who have relocated to the Middle East.

Hamad was deported to Iraq and has since become a key figure in Victoria’s fiery tobacco wars from afar.

Kazem ‘Kaz’ Hamad is believed to have close ties to the crime figure who gave the order to firebomb Lux. Picture: Supplied

Melbourne crime figure Ahmed Al Hamza and Comanchero Hasan Topal have also been living in Dubai for several years.

Last week, Arson and Explosives Squad Detective Inspector Chris Murray said it was only a matter of time before an innocent member of the public was injured or killed during the fiery warfare.

“The behaviour of these offenders is nothing short of frightening,” he said.

“While I know some people think it’s funny to see people light themselves on fire in situations like this, the reality is that we could have had a number of people killed as a result of this fire.

“Fire is absolutely uncontrollable and the sheer recklessness of this offending is just abhorrent.”