Detectives are investigating a fiery ram-raid into a Brunswick East building that houses a gym connected to former Mongols bikie and professional boxer Suleiman “Sam” Abdulrahim.
A man was spotted fleeing the scene with his arm on fire after an unknown group used a stolen black BMW X5 to ram the garage door of a business on Lygon Street two or three times at about 3am on Tuesday.
Cargocycles on the corner of Glenlyon Road was rammed, causing a fire inside the business and extensive damage to the shop. However, police believe the gym above the cycling store was the intended target of the attack.
Power Gymnasium moved in above the bike store several months ago after it was targeted by arsonists at its former Brunswick location in October last year.
A man seen wearing a Power Gym T-shirt, which he later turned inside out, believed to be former director Steven Eglezos, refused to speak to The Age. He was seen yelling at the owner of the building, telling him to “f--- off”.
However, the building owner, who did not want to be named, told The Age that he had a “great relationship with his tenants” and everyone was understandably emotional.
An early morning ram-raid on a Lygon Street building led to a fire inside a bike shop.Credit: Justin McManus
Abdulrahim, who was shot multiple times in the chest while leaving a funeral in Fawkner in Melbourne’s north in 2022, had previously posted numerous videos to social media of himself training at the gym.
The business has also promoted the boxer, who fights under the ring name “The Punisher”, on Instagram.
He is said to have a $1 million bounty on his head, making him the most hunted in Melbourne’s underworld.
Two of Cargocycle’s owners, who asked not to be named, said they were devastated by the raid. As well as cargo bicycles and e-bikes, the shop also supplies specialty bikes for people with disabilities.
Pointing to one of the decimated bikes lying in a pile destroyed by the raid, the owner said: “That’s a customer’s specialty bike. Completely destroyed.”
The owners said Power Gymnasium had moved in upstairs in about April.
Glenlyon Road is closed at the corner of Lygon Street, and drivers have been told to avoid the area.
Victoria Police detectives from Taskforce Lunar, which targets organised crime groups in the illicit tobacco trade, will investigate the circumstances.
Police said in a statement they believed the BMW was stolen from a Heatherton address on October 3. It is unclear if anything was stolen from the store.
“The offenders left the stolen vehicle behind and were last seen running towards Nicholson Street,” police said.
Anyone with information or dashcam/CCTV footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
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