Arsonists have targeted at least eight Melbourne restaurants, bars, and nightclubs since April 14, with police struggling to determine a motive. The latest incident occurred at the well-known South Yarra restaurant France-Soir on Thursday morning, where officers found jerry cans inside a vehicle stopped near the venue.
No Clear Motive
Detective Inspector Chris Murray, head of Victoria's arson and explosive squad, said police were puzzled by the attacks. Unlike the recent wave of firebombings targeting tobacconists linked to the illicit tobacco trade, these hospitality venues have no obvious connections. Owners have reported no extortion attempts or threats.
“Each and every owner who’s been subject to an arson attack and attempted arson state they haven’t been extorted, which is puzzling,” Murray told the ABC on Friday. “The motive is unclear and we’re trying to understand what that motive is, but the owners have been very cooperative and say they haven’t been threatened.”
Underworld Gig Economy
Murray described a disturbing trend: arsonists are being recruited through an underworld gig economy, akin to an “Airtasker for crime,” which he termed “Crimetasker.” Individuals are paid a few hundred dollars to firebomb specific addresses, often without knowing who hired them.
“What we generally see is this: individuals are responding to what the equivalent would be of Airtasker, being Crimetasker,” Murray said. “They go and get paid to do a task that’s offered by someone. Get paid a few hundred dollars. Often they don’t even know who they’re working for. That’s the business model that we see. So they’re being used.”
The youngest of four charged offenders in the recent attacks is just 16 years old. Many recruited for previous arson attacks on tobacconists have extensive criminal histories, substance abuse issues, and poor educational engagement due to undiagnosed mental illness or disability.
Escalating Arson Trend
Arson has become a more common tool in Melbourne's underworld, with almost 300 tobacconists hit since late 2023. The tactic is considered lower-risk than drive-by shootings or kidnappings, requiring only a stolen car, fuel, and a light. However, it is not without danger: a man died last year after setting a Prahran juice and dessert bar alight.
Police also suspect two kidnappings and a factory fire at an alcohol distribution centre in Melbourne’s outer south-east are linked to the hospitality attacks. While no clear links to the illicit tobacco trade’s firebombings have been established, Murray believes a single orchestrator may be behind the scenes.
“What we suspect is that these jobs are being tasked out, to anyone, and probably the one common denominator is there is someone sitting above who is pulling the strings,” he said. “They’re the ones we’re interested in. These young kids are being used as cannon fodder for a few hundred dollars.”
Murray urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity. “Let me be very clear: those people who are paying others an absolute pittance to light these fires have zero concern for their safety. They do not care one single bit. Your life is worth more than a couple of hundred dollars.”
