Man’s arm catches fire arson attack on Lygon St building housing gym linked to Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim

A gym linked to Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim is believed to be the target of a ram raid arson attack, with the taskforce set up to break the state’s illegal tobacco trade now probing the blaze.

Organised crime detectives are investigating an arson attack on a building in Brunswick East which houses a gym linked to Melbourne gangland figure Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim.

A stolen black BMW X5 was used as a battering ram to smash into an electric bike store on Lygon St about 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.

A gym of the same name and branding in Holmes Rd, Brunswick, was severely damaged in an arson attack last October. That business was also linked to Abdulrahim.

Police and fire fighters at the scene in Brunswick East. Picture: David Crosling

Taskforce Lunar detectives — who target organised crime syndicates and their involvement in illicit tobacco trade — have taken over the investigation into the latest arson attack.

Firefighters, who raced to the scene about 2.50am to find the BMW on fire and heavy smoke billowing from the building, 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.

Arson chemists were seen trawling through the bike shop on the ground level just after 10am.

It appeared to have suffered significant damage.

Several bicycles and cardboard boxes were left in a heap on the footpath and much of Glenlyon Rd remained cordoned off.

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

Firefighters were called back to the Power Gymnasium a second time after the rubble reignited.

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

The rubble outside the gym reignited just after 11.20am which saw fire crews called back to the scene.

They arrived within minutes to douse the flames a second time.

The Herald Sun understands the gym only shifted into the upstairs space in April.

Abdulrahim has weathered a string of attacks against his life and businesses he has been linked to.

A home in Melbourne’s northern suburbs linked to Abdulrahim was targeted by arsonists in August and, prior to that, was the scene of a drive-by shooting.

The champion boxer was also shot up as he left a family funeral in Fawkner in 2022.

Police have been warning him for months that his life is in danger.

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

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