Overview
Chapel Street's Electric was the target of an attempted arson attack in the early hours of Monday morning, becoming the latest Melbourne hospitality venue caught in a wave of attacks now stretching into its fourth week.
The Prahran venue confirmed the attack on its Instagram, with a statement that read: "Just after 5am this morning, the front entrance of Electric was deliberately rammed by a vehicle in an attempted arson attack. Security and police responded immediately." Electric said there were no staff inside at the time, no injuries, and no major damage was sustained. The venue will be closed tonight.
The news first surfaced on 3AW Breakfast on Monday morning, after a caller reported seeing emergency crews at the scene.
The Electric attack falls into the same pattern Victoria Police flagged last week with the launch of Operation Eclipse — a Crime and Counter Terrorism Investigation Services-led taskforce set up to investigate organised crime syndicates believed to be involved in the wave of arsons. By the time the operation was announced on 28 April, police had counted 15 linked incidents across the Melbourne CBD, South Melbourne and Prahran entertainment precincts since 14 April. The list was predominantly arsons, with two kidnappings and a drive-by shooting also believed to be connected.
It is not the first reported attack on the Chapel Street strip. Operation Eclipse records show a licensed Chapel Street, Prahran venue was targeted twice in April — an attempted arson on 21 April followed by a fire on 26 April — though Victoria Police have not publicly confirmed whether those incidents involved the same venue.
Image courtesy of Electric Bar on Facebook
Speaking when Operation Eclipse was launched, Detective Superintendent Jason Kelly said the campaign fit a familiar template: "This is a methodology we have seen play out previously, especially with regards to the illicit tobacco conflict." Kelly also warned that "fire is unpredictable and dangerous, and we have seen this play out with people being killed and people losing their livelihoods."
Twelve people had been arrested in relation to the broader run of incidents at the time of Operation Eclipse's launch. Police are urging anyone who witnesses suspicious activity near licensed premises — including people filling jerry cans at service stations — to call Triple Zero (000) immediately, with information also able to be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000.
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: Electric Bar | Facebook