Arson twist in bikie-linked gym attack
Written by admin on October 20, 2024
Police are probing a suspected arson attack on a boxing gym linked to a former bikie and professional fighter, which was targeted for the second time in less than a week.
Emergency series were called to Lygon St in Brunswick East about 5am on Sunday following reports of a suspicious fire.
Victoria Police say no one was inside the building and an investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
The blaze comes five days after the same building was ramraided by a stolen BMW X5 before several individuals entered the ground floor shop and set it alight.
The attack, shortly before 3am on October 15, caused significant damage to the Cargocycles bike shop and building.
One of the arsonists was seen running from the area after setting fire to his arm.
At the time, Victoria Police said it was believed the gym on the second floor, Power Gymnasium, was the target.
“Investigators believe the gymnasium above the cycling store was the intended target of the attack and are treating the incident as targeted,” a police spokeswoman said.
“No one else was physically injured in the fire, but the building sustained significant damage.”
The incident is being investigated by the Lunar Taskforce, established last year to investigate arson attacks connected to warring syndicates in Victoria’s illicit tobacco trade.
More than 100 properties and tobacco shops across the state have been torched in the conflict since October 2023.
In the 12 months since the dedicated taskforce was established, detectives have arrested 82 people, executed over 200 search warrants and seized cash, vapes and illicit tobacco worth more than $37 million.
Power Gymnasium is linked to ex-Mongols bikie and professional kickboxer Sam Abdulrahim who has faced a number of attempts on his life in recent years.
A home in Thomastown was targeted by arsonists in August after an earlier incident in May where Abdulrahim escaped without injury after shots were fired as he left.
Two years earlier Abdulrahim, who also goes by the nickname “The Punisher”, was shot five times as he was leaving his cousin’s funeral at Fawkner Cemetery on June 25, 2022.
He made a full recovery and returned to boxing in May the following year.
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