A sleeping Melbourne resident has luckily escaped a blaze after a smoke shop was firebombed early this morning.
A car was seen pulling up outside Cotton Mouth on Bridge Road in Richmond about 4am, before a man smashed a window and set the store alight.
Workers from the bakery next door raised the alarm, calling emergency services to the scene.
READ MORE: Australia’s US rivalry heats up ahead of ‘race of the century’
“We saw some smoke and some flames, so we said ‘quick, move everything out the back’,” Little Frenchie and Co worker Don Lawson said.
“It was really loud, there was a lot of commotion going on,” nearby resident Beanie said.
The resident living above the firebombed shop managed to escape with his dog unharmed as firefighters extinguished the blaze.
The shop has only been operating for around 12 months and its owner is shattered.
Police said the shop doesn’t sell tobacco but does sell medicinal cannabis products and paraphernalia.
READ MORE: Protests inside and outside as Albanese addresses Labor conference
The fire is being investigated by the Lunar Taskforce – a team dedicated to stamping out arson attacks – which is the result of a feud between two Middle Eastern crime gangs and the illicit tobacco trade.
More than 70 businesses have been torched since March last year and dozens of arrests made in relation to the ongoing turf war.
Neighbouring businesses are worried their livelihoods will also be impacted.
“It’s a real s*** situation to be in, it’s real crappy,” Little Frenchie and Co manager Sam Razis said.
“Little Frenchie is our business, it’s our livelihood so to come so close to a disaster is pretty awful.
“If you’re out and about, stay safe, and if you’re the ones causing it, stop it.”
Watch every moment, every medal of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 live and free on Channel 9 and 9Now. Plus, every event ad-free and in 4K on Stan Sport.
links to content on ABC
9News
