Four teens arrested over string of arson attacks as restaurant goes up in flames for the second time

A security guard was threatened with a gun as a restaurant went up in flames in the second arson at the Melbourne venue this week.

The latest incident occurred when four children were charged by detectives investigating fires linked to an ongoing dispute over illegal tobacco in Victoria.

The security guard was threatened with a gun at around 5am on Saturday during the latest arson at the Mill Park restaurant Al Nafoura.

He was not injured, Victoria police said.

About 20 minutes later, emergency services were called to a nearby car fire and investigators are investigating whether the two suspicious fires are related.

A security guard was threatened with a firearm during an arson attack at Mill Park restaurant Al Nafoura around 5 a.m. on Saturday (photo)

It came as police revealed four children were charged with arson at the same Mill Park restaurant on Tuesday, in addition to a tobacco shop fire in Ballarat and an aggravated burglary in Wonga Park.

Two 16-year-old girls from Mulgrave and Pakenham, a 15-year-old boy from Springvale and a 14-year-old boy from Mulgrave were charged after being arrested during raids on three homes on Friday.

The Pakenham girl was charged with two counts of criminal damage by fire, conduct endangering life and motor vehicle theft.

She was taken into custody, while the three other teens were granted bail.

The Springvale boy was charged with several offenses including two counts of aggravated burglary, the Mulgrave boy was charged with aggravated burglary and theft and the Mulgrave girl was charged with theft of a motor vehicle.

The latest incident occurred when four children were charged by detectives investigating fires linked to an ongoing dispute over illegal tobacco in Victoria.

They were charged by detectives from Taskforce Lunar, which is investigating more than 40 fires linked to a conflict between warring crime syndicates over illicit tobacco profits in Victoria.

Police allege the Wonga Park burglaries occurred when a white Isuzu D-Max and a silver Ford Ranger were stolen between February 19 and 20.

The Ford Ranger was then used in a firebombing of the Emerald Reception Center in Thomastown on February 22 before being found burnt out in Bundoora, detectives said.

A 20-year-old man from St Albans, who was previously out on bail, was brought to court on Thursday after being charged over the attack.

Police allege the other ute was involved in an attempted arson at the Mill Park restaurant in the early hours of Tuesday and another arson at a tobacconist in Ballarat on Wednesday.

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