Tobacco stores in Melbourne’s north-west have been rammed with vehicles and then set alight in two separate attacks, as concerns grow the city’s illegal tobacco turf wars have reignited.
A car was set alight and driven through the front of Middle East Tobacconist on East Street in Hadfield about 5am.
Another vehicle was rammed into a convenience store multiple times on Gladstone Park Drive in Gladstone Park about 5.45am.
“Nobody was inside either premises at the time and the stores sustained significant damage,” police said in a statement.
“Investigators are treating the fires as targeted attacks and will look at any possible links to other recent fires.”
Ahmad Khoder has owned the East Street building next door to the Middle East Tobacconist for more than 20 years.
“The barber’s a friend that rents the shop off me, but it’s his as well. He’s got a family. It’s stopping him from working,” he told 9News.
It was the second time the shop has been firebombed since August amid the fierce illegal tobacco turf war between gangs.
“I reckon it’s just an ongoing war of jealousy,” one local told 9News.
“It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, if you have the same business it’ll happen to you too.”
A crime scene has been established and arson and explosives squad detectives are investigating.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The fires were the latest in more than 50 arson attacks across the state since March last year.
It’s understood a ceasefire between the two warring underworld groups, which had been established, is over.
