Four arrested over Melbourne arson attacks on tobacconists but police allege they are likely ‘puppets’
Arson #Arson
Four people have been arrested over a series of dangerous arson attacks on tobacco stores in Victoria, but police allege they are “likely just the puppets for those pulling the strings”.
The three men and one woman were arrested and interviewed by police on Friday.
Their arrests followed raids at properties at Heidelberg, Kilmore, Flemington, Derrimut, Broadmeadows, Pascoe Vale and Glenroy, and were in the wake of a series of mainly Melbourne-based arson attacks dating back to March.
The 10 attacks on tobacconists are believed to be linked and included a fire at a Springvale store on 24 March, repeated fires at a Moonee Ponds store in May, a fire at a Wodonga store on 27 July and a fire on the same morning at Wangaratta, police said.
The most recent blaze was 11 August at a tobacco store on Hogans Road at Hoppers Crossing in Melbourne’s south-west.
Nobody was injured during the incidents, Victoria police said.
“Today’s arrests are just the start and we are very conscious that the individuals we have arrested so far are likely just the puppets for those pulling the strings in this syndicate,” arson and explosives squad Det Insp Chris Murray alleged.
“This is inherently dangerous behaviour and I want to assure the public that police will not tolerate such blatant and dangerous criminal conduct in our communities.”
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Legitimate tobacco store owners were scared in the wake of the attacks, which police were committed to stopping, Murray said.
The four people charged included a 33-year-old Epping man, a 40-year-old Kilmore man, a 31-year-old Flemington woman and a 43-year-old Melton man.