Victoria Police investigate crime gang links to arson attacks in Melbourne
Police are investigating possible links to crime gang disputes after more than 10 fires were allegedly set in 16 days across Melbourne.
Victorian Police are investigating a series of arson attacks believed to be linked to ongoing disputes between Middle Eastern organised crime syndicates in Melbourne.
Police will allege at least 11 alleged arson attack dating back to June 24 are possibly linked to two warring criminal groups with links to Middle Eastern Organised Crime entities.
Arson and Explosives Squad detective Inspector Chris Murray said luckily there had been nobody injured during the series of arson attacks.
“It is only sheer luck that one of these fires hasn’t resulted in the death or serious injury of someone, and it’s clear they have been lit with very little regard for the safety anyone else in these areas at the time,” Inspector Murray said.
“A fire can very easily get out of control and effectively cost innocent parties either their lives or their livelihoods. It’s behaviour that is utterly reckless and completely criminal.
“The use of arson by criminal groups to target and intimidate others has a significant impact on the whole community and won’t be tolerated.
“We have significant investigative and forensic resources from the Arson and Explosives Squad supporting the investigation into these incidents, and we are doing everything we can to ensure those involved are held to account.”
Detectives are still working to determine the motive for the overall ongoing dispute and are speaking further to the residents and business owners of those addresses, as well as any associates, in order to try and understand the reason for the attacks.
Police are calling on the public for any information about the arson attacks between June 24 and July 10:
June 24
Two vehicles were allegedly set alight in the driveway of a home on Anderson Road, Fawkner about 5.20am on June 24
June 25
A car pulled up outside a house on Greenvale Drive, Greenvale and one of the occupants of the car allegedly poured an accelerant over two cars in the driveway and attempted to set them on fire
June 26
More than $1 million in damage was caused when an alleged arson attack was carried out on a prestige vehicle business on Park Road, Oakleigh on June 26.
Police alleged a man arrived at the business just before 3am in a grey Audi A4 wagon and set the business on fire before leaving the scene
June 27
A group of people allegedly attempted to set a house alight while with five people were inside on Petros Street in Fraser Rise about 1.20am on June 27.
When an associate allegedly attempted to assist, his property on Hawksbury Green in Caroline Springs was set on fire.
Both properties sustained significant damage.
Separate to the arson attacks on the two homes, police allege a car parked at Pipemakers Park on Van Ness Ave in Maribyrnong had its windows smashed and was set alight about 7.40pm on June 27.
June 29
Police allege a Collingwood business on Smith Street was set on fire and had its windows smashed about 3am on 29 June.
It’s alleged at least three people used hammers to break the front glass of the store, before setting the property alight and fleeing in a silver SUV.
July 7
A fire was reported at a business address on Cooke Street in Port Melbourne on 7 July.
Police allege the property was broken into just before 2.50am and accelerant was poured throughout offices before being set alight.
Meanwhile, a separate incident was reported on the Deer Park Bypass in Ravenhall about 11am on 7 July.
Police have been told a collision occurred involving two vehicles, and two men from the cars were then involved in an altercation before driving off.
July 9-10
Two further fires at the property on Hawksbury Green in Caroline Springs on the nights of 9 and 10 July were reported to police.
It’s understood the occupants were not at the properties due to previous fire damage.
VIPER Taskforce detective Inspector Mick Daly said his team is working closely with detectives from the Arson and Explosive Squad and Echo Taskforce to investigated the series of arson attacks across Melbourne.
“If these groups and the criminals linked to them wanted the attention of police, I can absolutely assure them they now have it,” Inspector Daly said.
“We have three specialist taskforces now working together to target those involved in these disputes and actively disrupt these criminal syndicates. We want to put a stop to these incidents and the danger they present to the broader community.
“We have a number of persons of interest and avenues of inquiry we are currently pursuing, however we know there will be people out there who know who is responsible for these incidents and the motive behind them.
“I’d ask people to very carefully consider whether this dispute is actually worth it – you now have the full focus of police and I can assure those involved we will be doing everything we can to ensure they are held to account for their reckless criminality.”
Echo Taskforce detective acting Inspector Ash Ryan said investigators believe the fires are linked.
“We have seen previously where criminal syndicates such as this are involved in significant acts of violence, innocent members of the community are often caught in the crossfire,” acting Inspector Ryan said.
“It’s certainly concerning to us when you look at the number of arson attacks and the potential for them to escalate into something further. There is no doubt that this causes significant fear amongst members of the public in the areas where these incidents occur.
“At this time we believe these matters are most likely connected to a dispute between Middle Eastern Organised Crime groups, so the intelligence specialist units such as Echo Taskforce can provide will hopefully assist in progressing this investigation.
“Police will be knocking on the doors of every single person we think could possibly be linked to these incidents and doing everything we can to put a stop to it. If you have information to provide, then now is the time to come forward.”
Police are looking at whether any other incidents are linked to this series, however at this time they do not believe a number of recent fires at tobacco stores are connected.
Police have released CCTV from the business fire in Collingwood on 29 June which shows a man getting out of the silver SUV and setting the property alight.
The footage also shows two men breaking the glass shopfront before pouring accelerant all through the business.
One of the men also accidentally sets fire to himself before getting back in the car and leaving the scene.
Investigators are hoping someone recognises these men and can provide information about his identity.
Police are also releasing CCTV of a verbal altercation which took place outside the store on 22 June, which detectives believe may be linked to the ongoing disputes.
Two men are seen arguing with an unknown group, and police are keen to identify these two men.
On the majority of occasions, no one was present at the property when it was set on fire however almost all of the fires caused significant damage.
Anyone with information or CCTV/dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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