The firebombing of a home linked to a notorious underworld figure is part of a series of arson attacks being investigated in Melbourne.
Firefighters were called to a house in Larch Street, Thomastown, in the north of the city, at about 3am on Monday.
Flames were seen coming out of the two-story home, and 29 firefighters managed to contain the blaze to the two front bedrooms on the first floor.
The property is reportedly linked to underworld figure, former Mongolian biker and professional boxer Suleiman ‘Sam’ Abdulrahim.
The house was empty at the time and the fire was considered suspicious and police are investigating.
In May, police were called to Larch Street in response to a drive-by shooting and a failed attempt on Abdulrahim’s life. It was the second attempt on his life.
Detectives will investigate whether there are any links to the firebombing of a Port Melbourne hair salon on Monday morning.
Emergency services were called to a home in Larch Street, Thomastown, in Melbourne’s north (pictured) at around 3am on Monday after flames were seen coming out of the property.
A Porsche SUV crashed into the Bay Street store at around 1.30am and was then set on fire.
The car and the shop were destroyed by the fire.
One person living above the store fled the building and was not injured, but two young children from a neighboring home were taken to the hospital for possible smoke inhalation.
Police were informed that a person was seen fleeing the scene.
Firebombings at tobacco shops in Melbourne also appear to be continuing, with a Cairnlea store in Melbourne’s north-west set alight at around 6am
“Investigators will look into any possible links to other recent fires,” police said.
There were also fires in Richmond and Patterson Lakes overnight that police considered suspicious.
A man is believed to have set fire to his own apartment, which spread to four others, in the Richmond blaze at around 9:15 p.m. on Sunday.
The 37-year-old man was arrested at the scene and will be interviewed in connection with the alleged fire.
The property is reportedly linked to underworld figure, former Mongolian biker and professional boxer Suleiman ‘Sam’ Abdulrahim (pictured)
Several Melbourne locations were set alight in the early hours of Monday morning, including a Port Melbourne hair salon (pictured).
A disused retirement village in Patterson Lakes caught fire at around 1.20am on Monday.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said she did not want to speculate on the cause of the fires when asked if it was a matter of time before someone lost their life after repeated firebombings.
“Let’s not jump to conclusions,” he told reporters on Monday.
“Let Victoria Police do their job.”