Cowandilla shop hit in suspected arson attack as SA police probe links to Operation Eclipse

Footage has shown the lead up to an arson attack on a gift shop – as SA’s top cop separately reveals at least 200 smokes stores are operating illegally. See the map of the attacks.

Police are investigating another fire at an Adelaide business as residents were forced to flee after a nearby shop was the victim of a suspected arson attack overnight.

Police and fire crews were called to Sir Donald Bradman Dr, Cowandilla at 11pm on Tuesday after reports of a fire at a gift shop.

Shopfront windows have been smashed and the inside of the store was damaged by fire.

MFS crews extinguished the blaze, luckily the premises were unoccupied at the time, but residents of a neighbouring unit were evacuated for safety.

Resident Harkirit Singh said he was sleeping in the apartment above the torched gift shop with his mother-in-law, wife and eight-month-old daughter when they were woken by firefighters asking them to evacuate the scene.

“It was a bit scary,” Mr Singh said. “We just heard a knock on our door and we were told there was a fire and we need to leave our homes.

“We are fine now but at night we could hear the windows smashing and hear the fire and all the sirens.”

Cowandilla resident Sharon van Homelen said she was upset to have seen the gift shop burn down.

Local Cowandilla resident Sharon van Homelen outside the gift shop. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Cowandilla shop hit in suspected arson attack as SA police probe links to Operation Eclipse. 16th October 2024. Picture: Brett Hartwig

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said the latest blaze was being treated as the 16th connected to the illegal tobacco trade and the regular arson attacks were “putting lives at risk”.

“It’s been a dangerous phase in criminal activity in South Australia since the very first arson attack,” he said.

“Last night was a clear example of the risk that these offences are putting ordinary people at risk … every arson offence has the potential to cost someone their life”.

The police boss separately said more than 200 shops were selling illegal tobacco products in South Australia, posing a “significant challenge for police”.

“We certainly have information that indicates … there’s a group of organised crime syndicates that are behind what’s occurring in South Australia with 16 arson attacks on tobacco stores,” he said.

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by those who were the subject of any of the attacks, nor is there any suggestion the stores are doing anything illegal.

The arson attack has been linked to Operation Eclipse. Picture: Brett Hartwig

The Cowandilla gift shop was firebombed overnight. Picture: Brenton Edwards

“We are working closely with Victoria Police as we believe these families or syndicates are connected to activities we’ve seen in Victoria over the last few months,” Mr Stevens said.

Asked to identify the groups, he said he “won’t go into the specifics”.

“We have an ongoing investigation, Operation Eclipse, with dedicated resources which is tasked with getting to the bottom of these arson attacks”.

However, he said the investigations were difficult as police were dealing with “highly sophisticated organised crime syndicates” who used third parties to commit the offences.

Mr Stevens said so far, five arrests had been made in relation to Operation Eclipse including arrests for “arson, money laundering and serious criminal trespass”.

“We are treating this most recent arson attack (at Cowandilla overnight) as part of the crime series,” he said.

“I wouldn’t say we’re losing the war, I’d say we’re taking the fight to these people but they are difficult investigations.”

Mr Stevens said the willingness of ordinary South Australians to participate in the purchase of illicit tobacco products created a market illicit tobacco.

“That then provides an environment for organised crime to exploit that for their own gain,” he said.

The latest investigation comes amid a spate of previous arson attacks on tobacco stores around the city.

On Tuesday, just before 5am, a vehicle was driven into the front of the shop on Addison Rd, Pennington, causing structural damage to the building, and set alight with a burning mattress.

On Monday, there was an attempted arson attack on a tobacco shop on Grand Junction Rd, Rosewater.

The incident led police officers to arrest the young manager after they allegedly found meth pipes and bongs for sale. She was charged with selling equipment for use or preparation of a controlled drug and money laundering.

It is not suggested the manager had a part in the arson attack.

The previous day there was a suspected arson attack on another tobacco shop in Stonyfell.

That business had previously been embroiled in a separate controversy, with SA Health authorities last year investigating whether or not the tobacco shop was licensed.

Prior to that ASG Smokes and Gifts in Brooklyn Park was believed to have been the intended target after a suspicious fire at an IT business on Henley Beach Road.

A Flinders Park real estate business was also targeted for the second time in a row over the weekend.

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by those who were the subject of attacks.

Originally published as Cowandilla shop hit in suspected arson attack as SA police probe links to Operation Eclipse