Hair salon and house destroyed in Melbourne firebombing attacks
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 02:02 · Archive
A hair salon and house were destroyed in suspicious fires in Melbourne's inner suburbs early Wednesday, part of a years-long pattern of firebombings.
A hair salon on Shuter Street in Moonee Ponds was set alight around 12.50am on Wednesday. Police found a pair of singed jerry cans propped outside the salon and believe they were thrown inside before the fire started. The offenders fled in a light-coloured vehicle towards Puckle Street, police allege.
About an hour earlier, flames engulfed an unoccupied house on Deakin Street in Essendon, about 10 minutes away. The home, which was undergoing renovations, was gutted by the fire. Dozens of firefighters spent more than an hour bringing the blaze under control. At least one unknown offender was seen fleeing the scene.
Police said it is too early to determine whether the two fires are linked. The attacks are part of a wider pattern: a tobacco store in Fitzroy North was set alight on Monday morning with explosions heard shortly after, and authorities say the state is facing a spate of firebombings linked to illegal tobacco sales. There have been more than 150 tobacco store fires in Victoria since March 2023.
How it is being reported
- Hair salon, house gutted in suburban firebombingsPolice are combing through ash and rubble after two suspicious fires at a home and a hair salon in neighbouring suburbs of a city under siege by arson attacks.Perth Now · 14 Oct, 01:34
- Hair salon, house gutted in suburban firebombingsPolice are combing through ash and rubble after two suspicious fires at a home and a hair salon in neighbouring suburbs of a city under siege by arson attacks.The West Australian · 14 Oct, 01:34
In this story: Melbourne · Victoria · Moonee Ponds · Essendon · Fitzroy North · Danny Pearson
This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem
Comments (0)