Shock vision shows thugs armed with military rifles threaten guard with gun, fire bomb restaurant

Thugs armed with military rifles have been caught on camera pointing a gun at a man’s head, moments before they torched a restaurant, as the city’s ongoing tobacco wars escalate.

Shocking footage has shown thugs armed with military rifles throwing a man to the ground moments before torching a Melbourne reception centre.

Exclusive footage obtained by the Herald Sun has laid bare a confronting escalation in Melbourne gangland violence – much of it linked to Victoria’s tobacco wars – which have raged for 12 months.

Organised crime groups battling for control of the black market smoke trade have in recent months altered their tactics, expanding the range of venues they target for firebombings.

The footage shows brutal violence and ignition of the latest inferno, in which Mill Park Lebanese restaurant Al Nafoura went up in flames at the weekend, just days after an earlier botched attempt.

A group of men arrive at the restaurant’s entrance in two cars before pulling a security guard out of one vehicle and aiming what appears to be a military assault rifle at his head while throwing him to the ground.

The alarming footage shows a security ground on the ground with a military assault rifle pointed at his head. Picture: Supplied

The vision lays bare a confronting escalation in Melbourne gangland violence.

The violence is linked to Melbourne’s simmering tobacco wars.

Inside the eatery, two men douse the entire interior in flammable liquid before flames spread throughout it within seconds.

Less than 24 hours before the incident, Lunar task force detectives investigating the first attack arrested four boys and girls aged 14 to 16.

There have now been five venue fires in less than a fortnight as underworld chaos sparked by exiled crime boss Kazem Hamad drags on.

Hamad’s vendettas against a range of other powerful figures such as Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim and Fadi Haddara shows no sign of abating.

Two men then doused the dining room with a flammable liquid.

Firebombing venues has been a tactic for the crime group.

A spate of firebombings have taken place in Melbourne recently.

Many of them are believed to be linked to the fight over the illegal tobacco trade.

In recent weeks, minions as young as 14 are suspected of torching a growing list of venues that now includes reception venues and restaurants in addition to targeting tobacco stores themselves.

One underworld source told the Herald Sun that supporters of Abdulrahim, the reported target of a new kill plot in recent weeks, have been trailing Hamad’s movements in Iraq.

Within seconds, the restaurant went up in flames.

The Al Nafoura fire is one of up to 10 blazes and attempted arsons which have hit entertainment venues and restaurants in recent months. Picture: Emily Dann

The Al Nafoura fire is one of up 10 blazes and attempted arsons which have hit entertainment venues and restaurants in recent months, some of them linked to warfare over control of the illicit tobacco market.

Many of the incidents appear to have been crimes of timing, aimed at sabotaging events to be held within days, including shows by popular Middle-eastern entertainers brought to town by Melbourne promoters.

Al Nafoura was on Saturday night set to host an evening of entertainment with “international superstar Firas Kadi and the king of the stage Saliba Haddad”.

Brunswick reception centre Phoenicia was firebombed last week, days before it was to hold a concert featuring several Middle-eastern singers.

Phoenicia has links to businessman Walid Abdo and organised crime boss Fadi Haddara.

On February 22, the Furlan Club in Thornbury was torched days before the venue was due to host Abdulrahim’s tilt at an Australasian boxing title.

That same morning, arsonists lit up the Emerald reception centre in Thomastown, throwing a number of big weddings into chaos.

Exiled crime boss Kazem Hamad is believed to be behind the underworld chaos.

Hamad’s vendettas against a range of powerful figures such as Sam ‘The Punisher’ Abdulrahim and Fadi Haddara show no signs of abating.

Two Docklands restaurants linked to Haddara were set alight last December.

One of them, Almina, plugs upcoming entertainment events put together by a company called WA Productions.

WA promotional material says it is run by Mr Abdo and Haddara.

In the early hours of December 8, the Melrose Events reception centre in Tullamarine was set alight in a crime police later said was an attempt to ruin an upcoming event.

Melrose was due to that night host a show by Lebanese singer Maher Jah which, promotional material said, was organised by WA.

Those involved in the tobacco war appear to have altered their tactics in the 12 months since the fiery conflict began.

They initially confined themselves to burning the tobacco stores of their business rivals or those who refused to pay standover money.

In Spring, they started attacking other business interests of their foes, including gyms, ice creameries, mechanical workshops and cafes.

In the past few months they have pivoted towards damaging venues where functions are about to be held to cost their opponents big money.

Victoria Police’s illicit tobacco task force is investigating about 40 separate attacks linked to the tobacco conflict.