Blaze lights up tobacco shop in Thornbury, Victoria

Duncan EvansNewsWire
Camera IconMultiple triple-zero calls were received after a vehicle went into a shop on High St, Thornbury overnight on Sunday, September 15, 2024. NewsWire / Valeriu Campan Credit: News Corp Australia

Police are investigating a “suspicious” blaze at a tobacco shop overnight, with shocking photos from the scene showing a smashed up car in the storefront and large-scale fire damage.

The suspected fire bombing hit the shop on High St in Thornbury in Melbourne’s north, with fire crews called to the scene about 3.30am.

No one was inside at the time of the blaze, police said on Sunday morning.

“The fire is being treated as suspicious and a crime scene has been established,” the police said.

Camera IconA suspected tobacco shop fire bombing hit High St in Melbourne’s Thornbury on early Sunday morning. NewsWire / David Crosling Credit: NewsWire
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Camera IconThe fire and car smash up has left the store a smouldering wreck. NewsWire / Valeriu Campan Credit: News Corp Australia

“The investigation remains ongoing.”

Photos from the scene show large-scale damage with a smashed-up vehicle smashed in the front of the shop.

The fire-scarred store is littered with broken glass and wreckage, with police officers and fire crews seen inspecting the taped-off scene.

Victorian Police have been battling suspected underworld activity in Melbourne’s illicit tobacco trade for months, with several tobacco shops hit by arson attacks.

Camera IconThe police believe the fire is suspicious and a crime scene has been established. NewsWire / Valeriu Campan Credit: News Corp Australia

Arson attacks have hit 59 shops selling tobacco across Victoria.

Taskforce Lunar was established in October 2023 to investigate organised crime syndicates believed to be involved in the illicit trade.

Detectives have arrested 62 people so far as a result of their investigations and more than 100 search warrants have been executed on properties linked to illicit tobacco.

Originally published as Blaze lights up tobacco shop in Thornbury, Victoria

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