A vegan cafe in North Fitzroy has become the latest unintended casualty in Victoria’s long-running spate of suspected tobacconist firebombings, with the owners saying their business was damaged after an attack targeting the shop next door. Victoria Police said officers were called to the scene and an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Cafe owners Ashish Sharma and Manali Purohit told VCN they poured their life savings into fitting out the premises over five months, only for the business to be caught up in damage from what police allege was a deliberately lit fire at the neighbouring tobacco store.
What happened #
According to Victoria Police, emergency services were called to the North Fitzroy strip in the early hours after reports of a fire at a tobacconist. Police said in a statement that the fire caused damage to the shopfront and that the cause is being treated as suspicious. Firefighters attended and brought the blaze under control; no injuries were reported.
Sharma said the force of the incident affected the adjoining cafe premises, describing the scene the morning after as “like a warzone”. He said the couple had been midway through establishing the business when the incident occurred, and that the damage has disrupted trading. VCN has not independently verified the extent of the damage, and Victoria Police has not released a damage estimate.
No arrests have been made. Victoria Police said investigators are examining CCTV footage from the area and are appealing for anyone with dashcam or security footage to come forward. Anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Part of a bigger pattern #
The incident is the latest in a series of suspected firebombings targeting tobacco retailers across Melbourne, a trend Victoria Police has linked to an ongoing dispute over the illicit tobacco trade, sometimes referred to publicly as the “tobacco wars”. Police have previously said in statements that dozens of similar incidents have occurred across metropolitan Melbourne over the past two years, with premises selling illicit or black-market tobacco and vaping products allegedly targeted in firebombings, some involving accelerants and improvised incendiary devices.
Victoria Police has said organised crime networks are allegedly using standover tactics and arson to control territory in the unregulated tobacco and vape market, a market that has grown rapidly amid rising excise on legal tobacco products. Police have repeatedly cautioned that such attacks put neighbouring businesses and residents at serious risk, given many occur in mixed-use strips with homes and other shops in close proximity.
No one has been charged over the broader pattern of incidents referenced in Victoria Police statements, and police have not named any individual or group as responsible for the North Fitzroy fire. The investigation remains active and no findings have been made.
A neighbourhood on edge #
Traders in the area told VCN the frequency of these incidents has left small business owners anxious, particularly those operating near tobacco and vape retailers regardless of whether those retailers are doing anything unlawful. We have been told by sources close to several affected strips that insurance premiums for businesses near tobacconists have risen in response to the pattern of attacks, though VCN has not confirmed specific figures with insurers.
Local business associations have previously called on government and police for a stronger, coordinated response. Victoria Police has said additional resources have been directed to investigating the firebombings, including a dedicated taskforce examining links between individual incidents.
The cafe owners’ account #
Sharma told VCN he and Purohit had used Facebook Marketplace to source secondhand furniture and had done much of the fit-out themselves to save money, describing the cafe as a long-held dream. He said the couple had no connection to the neighbouring tobacconist and had not been aware of any threats or prior incidents at that address before the fire.
VCN has not been able to independently verify whether the neighbouring tobacconist was previously linked to any other reported incidents, and police have not confirmed any prior history at the site in public statements. Sharma said the couple were seeking advice on their insurance position and on the practical steps needed to reopen.
What regulators and police are saying #
Victoria Police has said its investigation into the North Fitzroy incident is ongoing and that detectives are working to establish the circumstances of the fire, including whether it is connected to other suspected firebombings reported across Melbourne in recent months. Police said in a statement that anyone with information, including footage from the area around the time of the fire, should contact Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000, or report online.
Separately, Victorian authorities have in recent years flagged the growth of the illicit tobacco and vaping trade as a public safety issue, with state and federal agencies conducting compliance operations against unlicensed retailers. VCN has reported previously on related enforcement activity and will continue to follow developments as they are confirmed by official sources.
Where the investigation stands #
As it stands, no person has been charged in relation to the North Fitzroy fire, and Victoria Police has not released further details about potential suspects or motive. We have been told by sources that the investigation is being considered alongside other suspected firebombings in the area, though police have not confirmed any formal link publicly.
VCN will continue to report on this matter as new information is confirmed by Victoria Police or becomes part of the public court record. The matter is currently under investigation. Any person who may be charged in connection with this or related incidents is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Support for affected businesses #
Small business owners affected by property crime or seeking support can contact the Victorian Small Business Commission for guidance on insurance, leasing and recovery options. Anyone with information about this or related incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Information can also be submitted anonymously online.
If you or someone you know needs support, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander callers can contact 13YARN on 13 92 76.
