Three suspicious fires strike Melbourne: dessert shops targeted
Authorities are investigating three separate suspicious fires that destroyed businesses across Melbourne within a 24-hour period, with a tobacco shop and dessert bar becoming the latest casualties on Wednesday.
The Melrose Tobacconist & Convenience Store in Tullamarine was targeted early Wednesday morning when attackers rammed a vehicle into the security door before throwing an accelerant inside. This marks the second attack on the same establishment in just one week, causing extensive damage. Investigators believe the two incidents are connected.
Approximately an hour later, a popular ice cream and dessert venue—And Bowl on Springvale Road—was consumed by fire around 2:20 am. The interior of the establishment, reportedly a hotspot for teenagers, was left completely destroyed.
These incidents follow Tuesday's fire at Willi Homemade Ice Cream and Acai in Williamstown, making it the fifth dessert business targeted in that suburb alone.
The recent spate of fires raises concerns about Melbourne's dessert industry, with at least nine separate establishments experiencing similar attacks. Authorities are investigating whether these incidents might represent the spread of Sydney's so-called "acai wars"—where industry competitors engage in online disputes—into Melbourne's food scene.
Williamstown has been particularly hard hit, with previous attacks on Williamstown Ice Creamery & Frozen Yoghurt occurring three times and Capriccio ice cream suffering one firebombing. Other affected businesses include a Prahran cafe specialising in acai bowls, which endured two separate fires at its Chapel Street location, and Dandenong's Munch Spot, which was reduced to rubble in another incident.
Victoria Police's Arson and Explosives Squad Detective Inspector Chris Murray expressed serious concern about the dangerous tactics being employed.
"This is yet another example of reckless conduct which could have gone horribly wrong, with lives potentially lost," he said. "The significant risk this poses to the broader community is completely unacceptable."
Detective Inspector Murray indicated that the arson squad would collaborate with the force's anti-illicit tobacco task force to investigate the Tullamarine incident, adding: "While we continue to work with Taskforce Lunar to do absolutely everything we can to target those responsible – the facilitators all the way to those at the top of the syndicates – we need the public's help."
Police are urging anyone with information about these incidents to come forward as investigations continue across all three locations.
Jonathan Jackson, 1st May 2025
