<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police are appealing for information after a series of suspicious fires at multiple Melbourne hospitality venues.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They include two fires, an arson, and two attempted arsons at licensed premises across the city's metropolitan area in the past week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Detectives are hunting for any connection between the arsons, and for a potential motivation.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-april-17-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/d7652f60-9d6d-4fc3-b566-b0df27fb328f" target="_blank"><strong><span>Trump renews criticism of Australia</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have issued repeated warnings about the dangers of fire and the potential for those lighting them to suffer life changing or fatal injuries," Detective Inspector Chris Murray, Arson and Explosives Squad, said in a statement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Despite that, we have seen arsonists die or suffer serious and life changing injuries as a consequence of being paid very little money compared to the value of a life.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Fire is incredibly unpredictable – those who are responsible are risking their lives, the lives of an innocent community around them as well as people's livelihoods."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/melbourne-hospitality-arsons-police-appeal-for-information/d732708f-5e16-4852-a609-51f72f80d663" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The first incident was an attempted arson at a Londsdale Street just before 6am on Tuesday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There was a fire around 3am on Wednesday at a venue on York Street in South Melbourne.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A 25-year-old Coburg man has been arrested in relation to the incident.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/singer-d4vd-arrested-over-death-of-girl-found-in-his-car/3d7e1978-f7ee-4b1e-ab06-70e104db6810" target="_blank"><strong><span>US singer D4vd arrested over death of girl whose body was found in his car</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There was a fire at a venue on Commercial Road in South Yarra just after 4am yesterday, the same time as an attempted arson at a venue on Cecil Street in South Melbourne.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two more incidents occurred this morning: a drive-by shooting at a venue on Lonsdale Street and an arson at a venue on Southbank Boulevard.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Both occurred within 10 minutes, just after 4am.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two boys, aged 16 and 17, were arrested around 5am in relation to the arson.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/china-warns-against-travelling-to-the-us/0f57d310-2854-465c-9fae-71dcbf191bb4" target="_blank"><strong><span>China warns against travelling to US after scholars accosted</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police are now calling on anyone with any information about the incidents – including who is responsible and what the motivation is – to come forward.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I would implore anyone who knows anything about these incidents to visit us and tell us what you know before we visit them."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report </span><a href="https://www.police.vic.gov.au/www.crimestoppersvic.com.au" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="online"><span>online</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Please – if you're out in metropolitan Melbourne and particularly entertainment precincts this weekend – call triple zero if you see anything suspicious," Murray said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That could be a car that's driving too slowly, people behaving oddly or something that just doesn't look right."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>

SHARE:

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.*