Queensland police investigating possible link to organised crime in firebombing of vape store

Queensland police are investigating possible organised crime links to the total destruction of a vape store in an alleged arson attack early on Thursday in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley.

The Brisbane vape store on fire after an alleged arson attack early Thursday morning. Picture: supplied

Queensland police are investigating possible links to organised crime or a tobacconist turf war in the firebombing of a newly opened vape store early on Thursday morning in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley.

Police say “we’ve had a number of tobacco stores that have been targeted’’.

CCTV footage shows the moment fire erupts through the front of the store just moments after the owner was assaulted by a man.

The footage shows the store owner fleeing the scene, and the other man – the alleged arsonist – running back inside back inside after the altercation holding a fuel can.

Seconds later, he escapes through the door of the store as the fire erupts.

The alleged arsonist left the scene in a white van before police arrived, throwing a partially burnt shoe out of the vehicle’s window as he drove away.

The recently opened vape store was completely gutted.

Emergency services were called to the Wickham Street address in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley just after 3:30am, following reports the building was on fire.

Brisbane regional duty officer Inspector Jane Healy said CCTV footage had underpinned police investigations so far.

“Most of it has come from CCTV footage, which shows that the man has entered the store and then a short time later, him and the victim, who is the owner of the store, have come out in a scuffle, and then the victim ran away,” she said.

“The suspect went back into the store and then a short time later you could see flames coming out of the store.’’

While police can confirm the vehicle of interest in the investigation is a white van, Inspector Healy said the search for the man in the video has been made difficult by a disguise or mask he may have been wearing during the attack.

“I believe the suspect may have been wearing some sort of disguise or covering his face, so at the moment we’re relying on being able to obtain CCTV footage,” she said.

“At the moment, the suspect is still at large, there was a vehicle at the scene and he did leave in that vehicle … there are some leads in relation to that vehicle.”

Inspector Healy said police are investigating all possible leads in the case, including possible ties to organised crime.

“At this stage we are investigating a number of leads in relation to whether or not the owner and the suspect were known to each other and what those links may or may not be,” she said.

“We’ve had a number of tobacco stores that have been targeted. We can’t confirm whether or not this is one of those stores being targeted, but that link is being investigated.

“It is extremely early days and we still haven’t had an opportunity to get a detailed statement so until we can do that, we’re following up on any possible leads.”

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said one man at the scene was assessed by paramedics, but declined transport to hospital.

The CCTV footage also shows an elderly man, Edward Moller, witnessing the entire ordeal.

Mr Moller said he saw the alleged arsonist chase the store owner and “start heading into him’’.

“I thought he was going to get in that white van, but he just belted him up, you know, really bad,” he said.

“The moment he raced out of the store, the flames just come out … he then jumped into the white van and took off … the other guy ran and just called the police.”

Mr Moller, who says he is a devout Christian, said he believed he was kept safe during the attack.

“I think there might have been an angel protecting us at the time,” he said.