Police have arrested teenagers and foiled another alleged arson attack amid the escalating gangland-style pub wars gripping Melbourne, thought to be fuelled by bootleg liquor.
Authorities have grouped 12 different attacks on venues in the CBD, including shootings, fires and a possible kidnapping, reporting the operators have received “no warnings” or threats.
The situation has escalated in the past week, as distillery 80 Proof was destroyed in a huge fire last Friday night. Owner Danny Grant – a well-known identity in Melbourne nightclubs – told his Instagram followers they are “trying to work out what the fuck is going on. We have zero idea”.
Then, over the weekend, bullets were fired toward The Emerson in South Yarra around 2am Sunday while patrons were still inside, in what is the third attack on the hotel this year. It already saw a fire in the loading dock this month, and suffered a ram raid in February.
Police reported shots were “fired towards the venue before the vehicle drove off”.
Only a few hours later, shortly before 5am, an unknown male offender set fire to Prahran’s Bar Up, just two hours after it closed.
The blaze is said to have caused “significant damage” to the venue, with a jerry can found discarded at the scene. Police reported someone had “set fire to the Chapel Street licensed premises before fleeing the scene on foot”.
The Emerson was given the green light by police to open and operate as normal on Sunday, prompting a statement by the venue.
“The safety of our patrons and staff remains our highest priority, and we continue to work closely with authorities to ensure a secure environment at all times.”
These follow numerous other arson attacks on licensed venues in the past weeks, including the attempt at The Emerson. Also in the crosshairs have been the Soho in Southbank, Kittens Strip Club, Bar Bambi in the CBD, and The Albion in South Melbourne, set alight mid-April.
And a gunman recently fired shots toward The Men’s Gallery in the CBD.
A team of specialist detectives are working to find links between the attacks, with a working theory they are part of an extortion scheme involving pressure to stock black market alcohol.
Late last week three teens, aged 15, 16 and 17, were arrested and charged in relation to the attack on Bar Bambi, after being allegedly spotted by Melbourne City Council Staff in a “suspicious” vehicle via CCTV cameras in AC/DC Lane.
Police were alerted and when they arrived the alleged offenders attempted an escape, but they were chased down and taken into custody, later charged with criminal damage by fire, burglary, theft of a motor vehicle and handling stolen goods.
The 17-year-old was already on bail and will face the additional charge of committing an indictable offence while on bail. All three will appear before a children’s court.
Around 4am on Monday two teens were observed by police on Southbank Boulevard near popular bar Left Bank pulling on balaclavas and latex gloves. Authorities swooped and arrested the boys, aged 15 and 16, and have charged them with conspiracy to commit arson.
A vehicle containing jerry cans and a sledgehammer that police will allege was being used by the offenders was found nearby.
Detective Inspector Chris Murray of the Arson and Explosives squad offered that the attacks may be mechanisms of threat and extortion by criminal networks.
“Obviously the act of arson is committed for a reason, that is clear,” Murray added.
It’s believed the teenage bandits-for-hire are being paid as much as $20,000 for the acts, although detectives say they have not established who is ordering and paying for them and they are aggressively addressing the problem before someone is killed.
