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A man arrested in Essendon is accused of handing out firebombing jobs to numerous offenders during the spate of firebombings that terrorised Melbourne’s nightlife earlier this year.
The 20-year-old was apprehended by Armed Crime Squad detectives about 8.30am Tuesday. Police say he is of high rank within an organised criminal syndicate linked to an offshore leader.
He is believed to have used encrypted apps to task offenders with numerous jobs in April, including a mistaken identity kidnapping in Malvern, an attempted aggravated home invasion in Doncaster and an attempted arson on a Southbank nightspot.
Operation Eclipse Detective Inspector Graham Banks said it was the operation’s “most consequential” arrest yet.
“These offences are significant examples of crime as a service – the alleged tasking of kidnapping, home invasion and arson,” he said in a statement.
“It’s a methodology we have seen play out previously over a number of years, organised crime tasking of offenders to commit intimidatory tactics. We saw this through Taskforce Lunar and fully understand the complexities around investigating and disrupting this serious offending.
“We will continue working with our partner agencies to actively target those syndicates involved. Victoria Police will do everything we can to hold them accountable.”
Between February and May this year, more than 30 firebombings, shootings, home invasions and kidnappings were involved in the crime spree.
Venues across the CBD, South Yarra and Prahran went up in flames, with the spate of violence raising questions about the long-term viability of the Melbourne industry.
An Iraq-based crime organisation is a prime suspect in the search for the perpetrator of the attacks. The group is believed to be behind threatening messages that were sent to multiple venue owners last week, warning that their businesses would be taken.
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