More than 50 people have been arrested since April for a series of arson attacks, shootings, and kidnappings targeting Melbourne's hospitality sector, police have confirmed. Despite the arrests, authorities remain unable to identify the motive behind the crime wave, which has caused millions in damages and heightened fears of lawlessness ahead of the state election.
Police allege that three teenagers—two aged 18 and one 17—were recruited via encrypted messaging apps to firebomb venues in May, causing over $1.1 million in damage. The suspects used a stolen Mercedes with cloned plates and a jerry can to torch a South Yarra bar, a Melbourne nightclub, and a North Melbourne liquor warehouse within 24 hours.
Detective Superintendent Jason Kelly described the recruitment of minors as a “despicable” global trend, with organised crime groups offering less than $1,000 for attacks. Young offenders face lighter sentences, and two teens charged with earlier firebombings have already been released on youth supervision orders, sparking outrage from victims who lost their businesses.
Police are investigating five possible motives: extortion, bootleg liquor supply, drug trafficking, security contract disputes, and religious or ideological targeting of vice venues. An Iraqi-based syndicate linked to alleged underworld figure Kazem Hamad is under scrutiny, but other organised crime groups have not been ruled out.
Some targeted businesses received WhatsApp messages demanding payments to avoid further damage, with threats to take their “souls.” The attacks have left owners and employees devastated, with one liquor company reporting eight job losses and $4 million in damages after a firebombing.
