Comancheros called out for blaze of construction site firebombings
A feared outlaw bikie gang is linked to a spate of firebombings targeting Victorian construction firms, with victims calling on the Labor government to ramp up its response to the violence dogging the state's building industry.
The Comanchero outlaw bikie gang — listed by federal authorities as one of the nation's highest priority criminal organisations – has both direct and indirect links to several of the arson attacks and standover tactics directed towards at least seven Melbourne construction firms over the past 18 months.
Construction industry insiders, speaking anonymously due to the fear of retribution, told this masthead they feared further attacks and that police had privately told them detectives were struggling to determine who was ultimately behind the wave of violence and intimidation.
'If police can't crack this without further government help, then something needs to change,' said one industry insider.
Another source who has spoken to detectives said the increasing violence and intimidation showed those behind it clearly did not fear the police.
On Tuesday morning, the headquarters of El Dorado Construction in Melbourne's west was torched in the fourth attack directed at the firm by underworld figures.
This masthead can reveal that police are also investigating another suspicious fire over the weekend at the premises of construction company Ark Industrial.
A statement from Fire Rescue Victoria said 30 firefighters had battled the blaze in the office building in Laverton North in the early hours of Sunday morning.
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