Six cars destroyed in fourth night of Melbourne residential firebombings

By Jiali Hong- “Student journalists at the University of Melbourne”

Police are investigating a series of overnight residential firebombings across Melbourne, as authorities examine possible links between the attacks and the use of young people by alleged criminal networks.

MELBOURNE — Six cars have been destroyed and two homes damaged in a fourth consecutive night of residential firebombings across Melbourne, prompting further police investigations.Victoria Police responded to incidents in Oakleigh East, Springvale and Reservoir early on Thursday morning, with several families inside their homes when the fires occurred. No injuries were reported in the Oakleigh East or Springvale incidents.

In Oakleigh East, a ute was allegedly set alight in the driveway of a home on Kuranda Crescent at about 5am. The fire spread to the house while four family members were inside. Vehicle owner Jacob Reiner said he had been in bed with his three-year-old daughter when he heard an explosion.

“I see a lot of this stuff on the news and online and I never thought it would happen to me,” he said.

In Springvale, a vehicle was set alight in the front yard of a home on Burrapike Avenue at about 3.45am. Eight people were inside when the fire spread to the property, causing minor damage. The family said it was the second time one of their vehicles had been set alight. In Reservoir, two cars were set alight on Pallant Avenue at about 2am. Two more vehicles were destroyed in the front yard of a home on Boldrewood Parade, about five kilometres away. Police believe the two Reservoir incidents are linked. However, police have not established a connection between all the recent attacks.

Victoria Police spokesman John McLaughlan said officers had “no intelligence to suggest all these incidents are linked at this stage”. He said any potential connections would be investigated on a case-by-case basis.

Police investigate possible criminal links

The latest incidents bring the number of cars destroyed in residential firebombings across Melbourne this week to 13. Other incidents have been reported in Balwyn North, Maidstone, Keilor and Taylors Hill, with homes also damaged in some attacks. A teenage boy remains in a critical condition in hospital after suffering severe burns in an alleged firebombing in Taylors Hill on Monday. Police have arrested three teenagers in connection with that incident. Investigators allege the boy was among a group tasked with targeting the property, with instructions passed through intermediaries on WhatsApp.

Detective Inspector Chris Murray, from Victoria Police’s Arson and Explosives Squad, said criminal groups were using young people to carry out arson attacks. “We intend to hold all those who were with him responsible for his critical injuries but importantly, we are committed to identifying those who tasked this arson,” he said. Police have yet to establish a motive for the recent attacks. Deakin University criminologist James Martin suggested the incidents could be connected to the Victorian Government’s crackdown on illegal tobacco, although he described the timing-based link as “tenuous”.

Government pledges support for investigation

Police Minister Paul Edbrooke was briefed by police on Thursday as investigators continued their inquiries. Premier Ben Carroll said he had spoken with Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush and would ensure officers had the resources required to investigate the attacks.

“These adult imbeciles using these young kids to do their dirty work is completely unacceptable,” Mr Carroll said. Police are urging anyone with information about the incidents to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.

Source: Victoria Police and statements attributed to police, government representatives, witnesses and a criminologist in the supplied report.

ABC News