Five people, including a 16-year-old male, have been arrested over Melbourne arson attacks
Five people have been arrested, including a 16-year-old boy, following another spate of arson attacks across Melbourne. Police say young gang members are being drawn into the battle for control of the state’s illegal Tabacco trade.
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00:00 Attack after attack after attack. Five alleged arsonists with links to the Finks motorcycle
00:07 gang were taken into custody on Friday after six attacks in less than a month. Police say
00:14 bikey gangs are going up against organised crime syndicates in a battle for control of
00:19 the illegal tobacco trade.
00:21 There is, without underselling it, still a significant conflict between multiple different
00:26 groups over a control of a significant source of income.
00:30 The attacks began on Christmas Day with a tobacco shop in Mowi set alight, followed
00:35 by a blaze in Croydon. Then this week a cafe in Altona North with alleged links to the
00:40 tobacco trade was the target, followed by a tobacco shop in Altona. The next night an
00:45 attack in Sunshine before the Altona shop was hit a second time.
00:49 Young women who were just minding their own business eating some takeaway food at the
00:53 reserve were approached by what we believe are two young male Caucasian males who were
00:59 armed with machetes.
01:01 One of the alleged offenders was a 16-year-old boy.
01:04 It's a highly concerning situation because some of them don't necessarily understand
01:09 the significance of what they're doing.
01:11 The attacks are just the latest in a months-long underground war over illegal tobacco. Police
01:16 now dealing with 28 active arson investigations. It's a slow process with alleged offenders
01:22 and many shop owners tight-lipped.
01:25 They all operate with a similar sort of criminal code and that is one of silence.
01:29 Police say they've turned a corner with the arrests this week, but they say it could take
01:33 months before the battle is brought to an end.
01:36 [BLANK_AUDIO]