3 weeks ago
4
Three men have been charged over a factory fire in Melbourne’s west earlier this year, just days after police released CCTV footage of the firebombing and revealed the motivation as intimidation.
A 38-year-old Brunswick man, 33-year-old Craigieburn man and 36-year-old Roxburgh Park man have all been charged with criminal damage by fire and theft of a motor vehicle over the Derrimut factory blaze in May.
A still from CCTV footage showing the car believed to have been involved in the Derrimut fire on May 27.Credit: Victoria Police
The Calarco Drive business was allegedly set ablaze about 5.35am on May 27.
Police allege the Craigieburn and Roxburgh Park men lit the fire, while the Brunswick man directed the offences.
This masthead previously reported the Derrimut fire targeted construction company El Dorado Contractors, making it the second firebombing against the company in a fortnight. This incident followed revelations of a campaign of firebombings and intimidation targeting the homes of company directors and government work sites.
The three men will appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Earlier this week, detectives appealed for information in relation to the Derrimut fire, as well as a separate fire in Maribyrnong on April 6.
The Maribyrnong fire took place outside a residential address on Scenic Drive shortly after 1.30 am, where footage shows two offenders dousing two vehicles in accelerant before setting them alight. The residence was undamaged, and the family inside was not physically injured.
Police continue to treat both fires as linked and are investigating potential connections to further incidents. The three men have been charged only over the Derrimut factory blaze.
Taskforce Hawk, established to investigate corruption in Victoria’s building industry, released CCTV footage on Monday as part of its appeal for information on the Maribyrnong and Derrimut fires, both believed to be connected to the construction industry and considered to be acts of intimidation.
A still from CCTV footage of two cars ablaze in Maribyrnong on April 6.Credit: Victoria Police
Taskforce Hawk was formed in July 2024 in response to the Building Bad investigation by this masthead, The Australian Financial Review and 60 Minutes, which exposed widespread criminality within the construction industry, including bashings, firebombings and intimidation tactics
Detective Acting Inspector Ross Mitchell, head of Taskforce Hawk, asked for patience on Monday as authorities gathered evidence. He said organised crime had clearly infiltrated the construction sector, but change was slowly occurring, with cultural issues being a key factor in addressing corruption.
“It’s a very unique environment from the point of view that there has been this sort of behaviour going on unchecked for a long period of time because people haven’t felt safe to report the crime to law enforcement authorities,” Mitchell said at the time.
Loading
“What I’m hoping is that we get an outcome from it [people coming forward] and that the outcome will encourage people to start co-operating and feeling safe to report it.
“The sense I’m getting is that the industry is sick of it, and I think that they want the change as well, and this is an opportunity.”
The investigation remains ongoing, and detectives are keen to speak to anyone who may have information about the incidents.
Most Viewed in National
Loading
