Police in Melbourne issued a warning to the public to stay vigilant following a series of arson attacks and a drive-by shooting at hospitality venues. The Victoria police force disclosed that detectives are probing potential connections and motives behind five arson incidents and a shooting in metropolitan Melbourne. Notably, two arson cases took place in Melbourne’s central business district, while the other three targeted venues in the inner-southern suburbs.
The shooting incident occurred early Friday morning when a shot was fired from a vehicle towards a CBD venue, with no injuries reported. In a separate event on April 1, a man was critically injured after being shot by police in Queensland. The Queensland Police Service stated that officers shot the man during a welfare check in Arana Hills, northwest of Brisbane, following an altercation involving a knife-wielding individual.
Meanwhile, in New South Wales, police initiated a search for a man who shot another man, stole money, and a car in Narooma, south of Sydney. The NSW Police Force responded to a shooting at a hotel where the assailant threatened patrons, stole cash, and fled in a stolen vehicle. The victim, a 31-year-old man, was treated at the scene and later hospitalized in stable condition, while the stolen vehicle was found burnt on a highway shortly after the incident. Authorities have launched an investigation and urged anyone with relevant information to come forward.
