Former Mongols bikie Suleiman “Sam” Abdulrahim had scheduled an upcoming fight at the Furlan Club.
Investigators will allege Bol drove a Ford Ranger to the car park of a business next to the Thomastown reception centre about 5.50am.
He allegedly set the premises alight before fleeing the scene in the same car. Police said the burnt-out vehicle was found on Nathan Court in Bundoora about 6.25am. Nobody was injured, but the reception centre was significantly damaged, a police spokesperson said.
Investigators said they believed the venue was probably targeted because an event was scheduled to be held there.
Detective Inspector Graham Banks said more than 20 arrests had been made since the inception of taskforce Lunar. He said the Viper taskforce had made another 70 arrests related to illicit tobacco.
Loading
“We’ve seen a number of significant arsons occur over the last week, and I can fully understand the community’s concern. Our investigations into all of the incidents are progressing,” Banks said.
“There is no doubt that the arrests we’ve made this week are important, and they will likely provide further avenues of inquiry for us. We will target everyone involved, at every level, for their roles in this offending.”
Abdulrahim’s coming return to boxing has become a nexus of the burgeoning underworld war, where old scores are being settled by Iraq-based crime boss Kazem “Kaz” Hamad, whose crew has been linked to two murders and dozens of firebombings.
The attacks come after Abdulrahim was shot eight times while driving in a funeral procession outside Fawkner cemetery in June 2022. The motive for the shooting has never been revealed and the gunmen responsible allegedly fled overseas before they could be arrested.
Loading
Abdulrahim has been engaged in a media blitz about his return to boxing and attempts to snatch the Australasian title.
He has also been close to the Haddara family, who are fierce enemies of Hamad.
On Wednesday, federal police arrested six people after police seized illicit cigarettes bound for Victoria with an importation value to the federal government of about $15 million.
Source Agencies
