Alleged restaurant arsonist accidentally sets himself on fire
CCTV footage released by police on Wednesday shows the moment an alleged arsonist set himself on fire during a targeted attack on the Al Marjan restaurant in Campbellfield last year.
The May 21, 2024 incident, saw a man ram a silver Mercedes Benz E240 through the door of the Hume Highway business shortly after 4:30 am. The footage shows the hooded man entering the premises and proceeding to douse the floor and bar area with accelerant from a red jerry can, visibly slipping on the spilled liquid.
Unaware of the accelerant splashing back onto him, the man ignited the fluid on his way back to the waiting vehicle. The flames caught onto his tracksuit leg, forcing him to "drop and roll around on the wet ground in a desperate attempt to extinguish the fire" before he fled in the Mercedes.
Emergency services responded to reports of a fire at the location, which sustained only minor damage in this initial attack. The Al Marjan business was targeted again in a separate fire on November 6.
Taskforce Lunar Detective Inspector Graham Banks said, "This is yet another example of just how unpredictable fire is and the inherent dangers of arson – it is probable this man will have needed some kind of treatment for significant burns."
He added, "We are conscious that those involved in lighting the fires are likely the puppets for those pulling the strings in this syndicate, and they are being left with serious – or life changing, as we’ve seen previously – burn injuries. Arson attacks put not only people’s livelihoods at stake but also people’s lives. We are doing everything we can to bring this dispute and the criminality linked to it to an end, but we need the community’s support and assistance."
Police have described the man as being approximately 170-175cms tall with a large build and an olive complexion. The Mercedes he used was bearing cloned number plates at the time of the incident but has since been recovered.
Authorities are urging anyone who recognises the man or has any information related to the incident to contact Crime Stoppers.
Jonathan Jackson, 28th May 2025
