Firebombing of a tobacco shop in Melbourne’s west leaves two men critically injured
Consensus Summary
Two men were critically injured after a firebombing at the Boss Tobacco shop in Melton, Melbourne’s west, early Thursday morning. The incident, caught on CCTV, shows a ute reversing into the shop before flames engulfed two individuals, one of whom was left severely burnt and airlifted to hospital. Police are searching for the second man, who fled the scene with burns to his hands and feet. The white ute used in the attack was later found abandoned and alight on the Western Highway in Hopetoun Park. Authorities treat the fire as a targeted attack, possibly linked to organised crime, and urge witnesses to come forward. TheAge notes this follows a pattern of arson attacks, including a fatal incident in February 2025 and an injury in March, while ABC highlights the extreme danger of such crimes to both offenders and the public.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- A 23-year-old man was found critically injured with severe burns at the scene of the firebombing in Melton
- The firebombing occurred at the Boss Tobacco shop in Melton around 2.50am to 3am on Thursday
- A white ute was found abandoned and alight on the Western Highway in Hopetoun Park after the incident
- Police are searching for a second man, believed to have significant burns to his hands and feet, who left the scene after the firebombing
- The fire was treated as suspicious and linked to a targeted attack, possibly connected to organised crime
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- A 52-year-old man was previously injured in an arson attack in March
- A 27-year-old burlesque performer, Katie Tangey, died in February 2025 after being trapped in a mistakenly firebombed home
- A witness described the injured man’s burns as covering over 50% of his body, with no skin left on his legs or hands
- The second man was picked up by a Good Samaritan near the Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour memorial around 3.30am
- Police are searching for a silver single-cab ute seen in the vicinity or in convoy with the white ute
- CCTV shows a ute reversing into the building, with men carrying jerry cans of fuel before flames engulfed them
- Fire Rescue Victoria crews arrived within four minutes and brought the fire under control around 3:12am
- The ute was found around 50 kilometres north-west of Melbourne on the Western Highway at Hopetoun Park
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- TheAge states the firebombing occurred at 'about 2.50am on Thursday,' while ABC reports it happened 'around 3am' and 'just before 3am'
- TheAge mentions a witness describing the injured man’s burns as 'over 50 per cent' of his body, while ABC does not provide a specific percentage but confirms critical upper and lower body injuries
- TheAge specifies the second man was dropped off near the Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour memorial around 3.30am, while ABC does not mention this detail
Source Articles
A fireball, then screams of agony: Suspected arsonist engulfed in flames, abandoned on pavement
CTTV footage shows a man enveloped in flames after a Melton tobacco shop was firebombed early on Wednesday.
Man airlifted to Melbourne hospital after firebombing gone wrong
A man aged in his 20s is in a critical condition in hospital after what police suspect was a targeted firebombing in Melton went wrong and he was engulfed in flames.
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