Police claim breakthrough in Melbourne’s hospitality wars, alleging links to overseas crime figure

Victoria police say they have arrested ‘high-ranking’ man from syndicate accused of orchestrating arson attacks

Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates

Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

Police have arrested a man they say orchestrated a wave of Melbourne arson attacks, marking a major development in the city’s escalating hospitality wars.

A 20-year-old was arrested in the city’s north-west on Tuesday.

Detectives alleged the man was a “high-ranking” representative of “an organised criminal syndicate linked to an offshore leader”.

“It is believed he ‘tasked’ offenders via encrypted applications for numerous jobs, including a mistaken-identity kidnapping in Malvern,” a police spokesperson said.

That kidnapping, which took place in the south-east Melbourne suburb, involved a number of men who assaulted a man inside his home before forcing him inside a car on 14 April.

He was later dropped outside a hospital. Police believe the victim was not the intended target.

Four males have been charged in relation to assault.

Investigators also allege that the 20-year-old had also organised an attempted aggravated home invasion in Doncaster on 28 April.

The man is allegedly behind a number of arson attacks that sparked a major investigation – Operation Eclipse – on 27 April, according to police.

The operation is targeting a range of crime syndicates believed to be involved in offences linked to hospitality venues, as well as determining the motive for these attacks.

Sign up to Breaking News Australia

Get the most important news as it breaks

after newsletter promotion

“This arrest is the most consequential we have made since the inception of Operation Eclipse,” Det Insp Graham Banks said on Tuesday. “These offences are significant examples of crime as a service – the alleged tasking of kidnapping, home invasion and arson.

“It’s a methodology we have seen play out previously over a number of years – organised crime tasking of offenders to commit intimidatory tactics.

“We will continue working with our partner agencies to actively target those syndicates involved.”