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A police taskforce established to investigate corruption in Victoria’s building industry believes two fires in Melbourne’s west are related and connected to construction businesses.
Taskforce Hawk has released CCTV footage of two people deliberately setting two cars on fire outside a house in Scenic Drive, Maribyrnong in the early hours of April 6.
Two cars were set on fire in Maribyrnong early on April 6.Credit: Victoria Police
The footage shows two offenders, one pouring accelerant on the vehicles and the other filming with their phone.
The first offender attempts to set alight the cars, but is initially unsuccessful. So the offender crouches in front of the bonnet of one car. A moment later, flames erupt across the driveway and the cars.
No one was injured in the attack and the house was not damaged.
On May 27, offenders set fire to a factory in Calarco Drive, Derrimut about 5.30am.
“It’s believed offenders have forced entry into an office area, spread accelerant throughout, then set the building alight,” police said in a statement on Monday morning.
“The offenders then left the area in a silver Lexus SUV.”
Police have also released CCTV footage of the Lexus. They believe the two fires are linked and are investigating whether other incidents are also related.
A still from CCTV footage showing the car believed involved in the Derrimut fire on May 27.Credit: Victoria Police
Taskforce Hawk’s Detective Acting Inspector Ross Mitchell said his team believed “the reason for these fires is connected to corrupt activity within the building industry”.
“These fires had the potential to cause significant property damage and even loss of life,” Mitchell said.
“We are keen to know who may have been involved in lighting the fires, and also who may be responsible for directing them.”
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Taskforce Hawk is the new name for Operation Hawk, which was established after this masthead’s Building Bad series revealed that organised crime had infiltrated the construction union.
Despite the absence of a single substantive criminal charge, Premier Jacinta Allan has repeatedly insisted that her response to 14 months of Building Bad revelations – including Labor’s moves to boost law enforcement powers and back CFMEU administrator Mark Irving, KC – is adequate.
More to come
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