Underworld figure's home set alight amid series of arson attacks

Underworld figure Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim’s home was set alight amid a series of arson attacks across Melbourne overnight.

Fire crews responded to a blaze at a home linked to Abdulrahim in Thomastown about 3am.

A hair salon on Bay Street in Port Melbourne was targeted an hour earlier, when a car crashed into the store before being set alight.

Residents of a unit above the hair salon called Triple Zero and had to evacuate.

Paramedics confirmed they transported a primary-school-aged girl, a teenage girl, and a woman in her 40s to the hospital, all in stable condition.

The salon is believed to have connections to Abdulrahim.

Detective Acting Inspector Adam Henry noted that the situation could have been much worse for the family living above the business.

“It is only through sheer luck that we are not investigating multiple fatalities as a result of these suspicious fires over the past 24 hours.

“To light a fire in a business with no regard for the occupants living above it is completely reckless.

“We have said many times before that those responsible for arson attacks such as this show zero regard for the lives or others and that it is only likely a matter of time before we see someone killed as a result.”

It came on a busy night for firefighters, after they were also called to an apartment block in Clark Street, Richmond, at about 9.15pm.

Police said it appeared a resident had set fire to his own apartment, which in turn damaged four others.

The 37-year-old man was arrested. Nobody was injured, but several people had to flee their homes.

A fire also erupted at a disused retirement village on Gladesville Boulevard, Patterson Lakes, at about 1.20am.

The fire has been deemed suspicious and a crime scene guard was placed.

There was another fire at a tobacco store on Furlong Road in Cairnlea about 6.05am.