This Just In: Victoria Police Have Arrested a 'High-Ranking' Person Over Melbourne's Spate of Hospo Venue Firebombings
Police say a key figure linked to Melbourne's recent wave of arsons, kidnappings and home invasions has been arrested.
A series of arson attacks has cast a shadow over Melbourne's hospitality scene in recent months, with venues including The Albion Rooftop, The Emerson, Electric Bar, La Di Da, among several others, targeted since the start of the year.
Now, Victoria Police have made what they're calling a major "high-ranking" arrest, with a 20-year-old man in custody said to have played a pivotal role "within an organised criminal syndicate linked to an offshore leader."
According to The Age, the man is accused of using encrypted apps to task offenders with crimes, which included "a mistaken identity kidnapping in Malvern and an attempted aggravated home invasion in Doncaster," alongside the spate of high-profile firebombings.
Image courtesy of Electric Bar on Facebook
With the frequent arson attempts leading to Operation Eclipse — a Crime and Counter Terrorism Investigation Services-led taskforce set up to investigate the wave of arsons — over 30 firebombings, shootings, home invasions and kidnappings have now been connected.
"This arrest is the most consequential we have made since the inception of Operation Eclipse," said Detective Inspector Graham Banks. "These offences are significant examples of crime as a service — the alleged tasking of kidnapping, home invasion and arson."
"It's a methodology we have seen play out previously over a number of years — organised crime tasking of offenders to commit intimidatory tactics," he said. "We will continue working with our partner agencies to actively target those syndicates involved."
The Albion Rooftop
Anyone with information on the attack or the wider series of incidents can contact Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000.
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Images: iStock / Electric Bar | Facebook
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