Man’s arm catches fire during ram raid on Lygon St bike shop

Police are investigating whether an arson attack on a Lygon St bike shop — which left a man fleeing the scene in flames — is the latest in Melbourne’s long line of underworld firebombing attacks.

Police are expected to investigate whether an arson attack in Brunswick East on Tuesday morning is the latest in Melbourne’s long line of underworld firebombing attacks.

A stolen black BMW X5 was used as a battering ram to smash into an electric bike store on Lygon St just before 3am, before the building was set alight.

One of the bungling arsonists was seen running from the scene with his arm on fire after torching the shop.

A Power Gymnasium sits above the Cargo Bikes store.

Firefighters were promptly on scene at about 2.50am to find the BMW on fire and heavy smoke emanating from the building.

Fire Rescue Victoria crews were able to extinguish the blaze. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus conducted a sweep of the building.

No one was found inside the shop or the gym upstairs above the bike shop.

A gym of the same name in Holmes Rd, Brunswick, was severely damaged in an arson attack last October.

That business was linked to Melbourne gangland figure and tobacco wars combatant Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim.

The offenders use a car to smash into the bike store. Picture: David Crosling

A witness reported seeing one man flee the scene with his arm on fire. Picture: David Crosling

The attack is similar to many of the more than 100 incidents of the past 18 months linked to syndicates fighting for control of the illicit tobacco trade.

A Victoria Police spokesman said they had reports of one of the offenders seen fleeing the Lygon St property with an arm on fire.

The arsonists were last spotted running towards Nicholson St.

Police believe the BMW used to smash inside the building was stolen from a Heatherton address on October 3.