Three people, including a child and a teenager were rushed to hospital, following a slew of fires overnight. This comes after a fire at a home in Melbourne’s north connected to underworld figure Sam "the punisher" Abdulrahim is being treated as suspicious and could be linked to two other blazes.
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00:00A crime carried out under the cover of darkness. Police say this luxury car was rammed into
00:08a Port Melbourne salon and set alight, leaving the business completely destroyed and two
00:14children from a nearby home in hospital for smoke inhalation.
00:18The outcomes could have been far worse and it's only through sheer luck that nobody has
00:24died.
00:25Plenty gathered in the light of day to have a look at the charred scene.
00:29I was a bit surprised, a bit shocked. So yeah, obviously fair disruption to the street.
00:36The shop next door wasn't spared from damage. The owner is expecting a hefty repair bill.
00:41I'm a little bit scared and a little bit worried about my business because my new business
00:47just started one and a half months.
00:49Police are working to establish whether the fire is connected to other overnight arson
00:53attacks at a Carnley tobacco shop and another blaze in Melbourne's north. This home in Thomastown,
01:00linked to underworld figure and boxer Sam Abdul-Rahim, also went up in flames. The same
01:06address was targeted in two shootings earlier this year.
01:10Victoria Police will investigate that incident like we have a number of other incidents related
01:15to that address and the mail you've indicated.
01:18Neighbours here on Lark Street say they awoke to flashing lights and flames in the early
01:22hours of the morning. Some have told us they're increasingly concerned about the number of
01:27troubling incidents that have occurred on the street recently.
01:30Since March last year, there have been close to 100 arson attacks connected to illicit
01:35tobacco and organised crime. 78 people have been arrested, prompting a stark message for
01:41those responsible for last night's fires.
01:44The likelihood of you being caught is high and as I say, Victoria Police will be relentless
01:50in pursuit of you.
01:52Crews were also kept busy with separate fires at a Richmond apartment block and a former
01:56retirement village in Paterson Lakes. Neither were considered linked to the three other fires.