Teen burned, second male sought after Korean BBQ restaurant torched

A 15-year-old boy is under police guard and being treated for burns in hospital, after a Korean barbecue restaurant on Springvale Road in Melbourne’s south-east was allegedly set alight.

Protective Services Officers (PSOs) patrolling Springvale Station were alerted just after midnight that two males had broken into the restaurant. Shortly afterwards, black smoke was seen pouring from the building and firefighters were called to the scene. No one was inside at the time.

The pair is believed to have fled in a vehicle. Police then received reports that a teenage boy with burns was at a fast food outlet on Warrigal Road in Heatherton, a short distance from the restaurant. He was taken to hospital under police guard.

Investigators are searching for the second male believed to be involved, and the investigation remains ongoing. Police located a jerry can near the restaurant and seized it as evidence.

The fire marks the seventh consecutive day of arson attacks across Melbourne, adding to concern about targeted attacks on commercial premises.

On Monday morning, a 13-year-old boy suffered burns to 90 per cent of his body in a botched firebombing of two vehicles in Taylors Hill, in the city’s north-west. He remains in a critical condition and is fighting for his life.

On Friday, the boy’s sister urged other Victorian children not to accept money in exchange for carrying out crimes. Her appeal followed revelations that the group of young people involved in the Taylors Hill attack had been tasked with lighting the fire by middlemen on WhatsApp.

Jonathan Jackson, 12th October 2026