At least eight hospitality venues in Melbourne, including restaurants, nightclubs and bars, have been targeted by arsonists since 14 April, police have confirmed. The most recent attack occurred on Thursday morning at the well-known South Yarra restaurant France-Soir, where jerry cans were allegedly spotted inside a vehicle stopped nearby.
Detective Inspector Chris Murray, head of Victoria's arson and explosive squad, said the motive remains unclear. Unlike the firebombings during Melbourne's tobacco wars, which have seen nearly 300 tobacconists hit since late 2023, these attacks appear to have no obvious link to extortion or known crime gangs. “Each and every owner who’s been subject to an arson attack and attempted arson state they haven’t been extorted, which is puzzling,” Murray told the ABC.
Police suspect the arsonists are recruited through an underworld gig economy, akin to a “Crimetasker” service, where individuals are paid a few hundred dollars to carry out attacks. The youngest of four offenders charged in relation to the recent incidents is 16. Murray warned that these young men are being used as “cannon fodder” by unknown organisers.
Police also believe two kidnappings and a factory fire at an alcohol distribution centre in Melbourne’s outer south-east may be connected to the hospitality attacks. Murray urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity.
