Detectives are investigating whether an arson attack on a tobacconist in Melbourne's southwest is linked to a spate of tit-for-tat firebombings connected to warring crime gangs.
Emergency services were called to a fire at a tobacconist on Hogans Rd at Hoppers Crossing about 4am on Friday.
Nobody was inside the store at the time of the blaze, which police were treating as suspicious.
Detectives were probing whether the fire was linked to a spate of recent firebombings believed to be connected to Middle Eastern organised crime entities.
The arson and explosives squad was chasing several lines of inquiry over the arson attacks, of which the warring gangs were believed to be behind at least 11 since late June.
Last month, police were also looking at whether the gang war was behind a July 16 fire at a gym at Dandenong in Melbourne's southeast.
A car was used to crash through the front door of the gym before those inside the vehicle poured accelerant through the building and set it alight.
Victoria Police on July 19 arrested two men who they alleged were involved in a Melbourne freeway fight believed to be linked to the gang war.
A 31-year-old man was later charged with reckless conduct endangering injury and affray, while another man was released without charge.
Victoria Police on Friday urged anyone with information about the Hoppers Crossing fire or the other recent firebombings to come forward.
“We have been very open about the fact there is currently a significant investigation into a number of recent suspicious fires across Melbourne, and that police have a strong focus on this criminality," arson and explosives squad Detective Inspector Chris Murray said.
"If you are engaged in this type of offending for any reason at the moment then rest assured, you have our full attention.
"With each and every arson that occurs on tobacco stores our interest and involvement increases."
The fires have so far caused millions of dollars worth of damage - much of it impacting innocent people, Det Insp Murray said.
It was only because of luck that nobody was seriously injured or killed, he said.
Police are yet to determine the cause of the Hoppers Crossing fire.
Members of the anti-bikie Echo taskforce, gang-focused Viper taskforce and the arson and explosives squad were rolled into a team to crack down on the opposing crime clans in the wake of the firebombings.
