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Melbourne Nightlife Arson Probe Widens After Club Ram-Raid and New Arrests

Police say organisers are using encrypted apps to recruit teenagers.

Overview

  • Electric Bar in Prahran, which was rammed by a white Mercedes about 5:40am Monday, was left reeking of petrol with jerry cans inside after the apparent arson attempt was interrupted.
  • About an hour earlier nearby, officers patrolling the precinct arrested five people in a stolen Mazda CX‑9 with false plates and two full jerry cans, which police say is not currently linked to the Electric Bar incident.
  • The same night, a family escaped a suspicious house fire in Caulfield North and a car was driven through a Tullamarine kebab shop before a fire was lit inside.
  • Two people, including a 16‑year‑old, were charged Saturday over the Docklands Almina arson after police found suspects hiding under the Bolte Bridge and seized jerry cans from a car, with damage described as minor and no injuries reported.
  • Operation Eclipse is examining links across dozens of venue attacks and probing organised‑crime direction, with The Age reporting unconfirmed extortion threats sent to owners by an overseas group.