Hospitality wars: who is recruiting children to firebomb Melbourne bars, nightclubs and restaurants?

A stolen Mercedes E300 with cloned number plates was linked to alleged arson activity involving three teenagers. Police allege the youths were recruited by someone they had never met and used a jerry can to target hospitality venues. Within 24 hours, two 18-year-olds and a 17-year-old allegedly torched or attempted to torch a South Yarra bar, a Melbourne nightclub, and a North Melbourne liquor storage warehouse. Damage from incidents on 4 and 5 May is estimated at more than $1.1m. Since April, more than 50 arrests have been made across nearly 40 incidents involving arson, shootings, and kidnappings targeting hospitality. Police still cannot identify why the attacks are happening. Five likely scenarios include extortion, bootleg liquor supply, illicit drug trafficking, attempts to secure security or promotions contracts, and religious or ideological targeting of vice businesses. Investigations consider possible involvement of an Iraqi-based syndicate linked to Kazem Hamad, while other organised crime figures remain possible. Many charged are children, described as a global trend using young foot soldiers.

"Police say that there have been arrests for most incidents, including for every arson in the CBD, and yet they still can't say why the attacks are happening. What is clear is that the fires have added to a growing sense of lawlessness in Victoria, only six months from a state election where a focus on crime could provide the Coalition with a path to victory."

"According to public statements, and to presentations given to the hospitality industry, police consider five scenarios most likely for the attacks: extortion; the supply of bootleg liquor; the trafficking of illicit drugs; angling for security or promotions contracts; and religious or ideological reasons for targeting businesses of vice, including brothels. It is also suspected that not all the businesses are being attacked for the same reason."

"In less than 24-hours, the two 18-year-olds and one 17-year-old are alleged to have torched or attempted to torch a South Yarra bar, a Melbourne nightclub, and a North Melbourne liquor storage warehouse. The damage bill from the alleged offending on 4 and 5 May is estimated at more than $1.1m."

"Detectives are investigating whether an Iraqi-based syndicate linked to alleged underworld kingpin Kazem Hamad is responsible, but stress that other organised crime figures have not been ruled out. Child actors The majority of those charged are children, police say, a trend described by one officer as despicable."

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