A hospitality venue owner has been shot at during a home invasion overnight, the latest in an escalating series of violent attacks.
Armed offenders stormed a property in Melbourne’s outer suburbs where the venue owner lives with his family, according to police and industry sources speaking on condition of anonymity. Victoria Police has been contacted for comment.
Also overnight, two more Melbourne hospitality venues were attacked in what police suspect is the latest in a string of violent incidents, including firebombings and shootings, that has plagued the city’s nightlife since February.
A Molotov cocktail was thrown at George Hotel on Cecil Street, South Melbourne, about 2.30am on Saturday.
A small fire was extinguished, causing “minimal damage”, according to Victoria Police. The pub was closed at the time and no one was injured.
A group of offenders fled from the scene in a vehicle, and officers were unable to locate those involved.
Police are also investigating an incident in Docklands overnight, where a glass door was smashed at Lebanese restaurant Almina about 3.45am. A jerry can was visible outside the taped-off venue, according to Nine News.
The restaurant was previously firebombed in December 2023, with three offenders smashing the restaurant’s windows and using an accelerant to set the venue alight. The trio fled in a vehicle.
Both of the incidents in the early hours of Saturday will be investigated by detectives from Operation Eclipse, a specialist taskforce designed to hunt down those behind Melbourne’s spate of firebombings.
At least 25 attacks on Melbourne hospitality and late night venues have been reported since the crime spree began in February, according to several sources across police, hospitality and nightlife industries.
The list of targeted venues includes Albion Hotel, The Emerson, Left Bank, Bar Bambi and France-Soir restaurants.
Police confirmed that at least 16 firebombings, drive-by shootings or attempted attacks on licensed venues were related, as well as two abductions connected to the industry.
Federal and state police are investigating whether the recent spate of violence is linked to the trade in tax-free alcohol.
According to law enforcement sources unable to speak publicly, they are probing whether some new opaque entrants to the distilling industry are exploiting a $180 million-a-year tax break meant to encourage craft spirit makers, but which critics say is distorting the market with excise-free liquor.
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