Australia crime updates: Police uncover online accounts allegedly linked to “bar wars” arson attacks

Victorian detectives have uncovered numerous online usernames believed to belong to the alleged taskmasters who orchestrated a wave of recent firebombings and extortions in Melbourne.

The identities behind online usernames “Onepercent”, “Motion” and “Work” are alleged to have been instructing foot soldiers to target venues in Melbourne’s CBD and inner-city areas during the “bar wars” earlier this year.

The Armed Crime Squad ramped up investigations in April amid an almost daily onslaught of firebombings targeting venues.

The discovery of the online profiles has now become imperative to the investigation.

Detective Acting Inspector Simon Pengelly of the Armed Crime Squad said the investigation now relied on information from members of the public who may have communicated with those behind the usernames.

“The reality is, we can’t do this without the help of the community. Police are only as good as the intelligence we have,” he said.

“If you have any information on these handles — or have had any contact with them — you can play a critical role in helping us to curb this offending. We’d urge you to come forward and speak to police.”

Underworld sources say the usernames were likely tied to “burner” or single-use accounts and devices that may no longer be active.

Social media and encrypted messaging apps have become a preferred method of communication between taskmaster criminals and their underlings, who are often children.

Several youths are facing charges for their alleged roles in some of the attacks, including a Pakenham home invasion and an alleged arson at Left Bank cocktail bar in Southbank.

Operation Eclipse detectives charged 20-year-old Jesse Hadchiti in July, alleging him of being a key middleman responsible for co-ordinating some of the attacks.

Detective Inspector Graham Banks said Mr Hadchiti painted himself as a high roller, allegedly using the handle “Commbank” on messaging platforms to allude to the amount of money he was making by working for the Hamad syndicate.

Police alleged Mr Hadchiti had up to 2,000 underlings at his disposal to commit crimes on behalf of the gang.

Mr Hadchiti has been behind bars since his July arrest at his parents’ Essendon home.

A more recent spate of arson attacks in Melbourne saw almost 20 cars, venues and homes targeted, with several of the attacks allegedly linked to illegal tobacco.

According to the ​​ABC​​, the alleged teenage arsonists behind some of the attacks received their orders via encrypted messaging platform WhatsApp.

One of the recent attacks in Taylors Hill where a car was torched left a 13-year-old boy fighting for his life.

“Tasking criminal offences while hidden behind an online platform is not a faceless crime,” Inspector Pengelly said.

“Arsons, extortions, kidnappings and other violent criminal offending is being used to intimidate, influence and impose and is putting the Victorian community at risk.”

A man could spend life behind bars after allegedly seeking out information on military training and explosive devices in preparation for a terrorist attack.

Police on Friday upgraded charges against a 22-year-old man from Perth, who has been before the courts since December.

The man was initially charged with terror-related offences after counter terrorism officers executed a search warrant at a property in Westminster in Perth’s north.

Authorities have now upgraded the charges to include an additional charge of acts done in preparation for, or planning, terrorist acts.

The latest charge carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Police will allege the man sought assistance on a messaging platform in relation to explosive devices, military and tactical training, weapons manufacturing, combat techniques and fake documents as part of planning a terrorist attack.

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A safe filled with gold and silver bullion has allegedly been stolen from a NSW property.

Police said the safe went missing from Emmaville, around 80 kilometres north of Inverell in the New England region of NSW.

The theft allegedly happened between September 27 and October 4 and an investigation was launched earlier this month.

It is believed that a padlock was used to cut into a shipping container, where the safe was stored.

Inside the safe was 1kg silver bars, 100 1oz silver bars, 140 1oz silver coins, three 1oz gold bars, a 100g gold bar, a 5oz gold bar, and a 250g gold bar.

Anyone with any information is being urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

“Australia’s worst paedophile”, Ashley Paul Griffith, has been charged with more than 200 child abuse offences in NSW after being extradited from Queensland this week.

Police allege the 48-year-old man sexually abused 23 children, aged between one and five, between July 2014 and December 2017 while employed as a childcare worker in Sydney’s Inner West.

Griffith was jailed for life in Queensland in November 2024 after he pleaded guilty to more than 300 child sexual offences against nearly 70 victims.

At 8.25am on Friday, he was arrested and charged with 202 offences; 68 counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 10, 42 counts of aggravated sexual intercourse with child under 10 – under authority, 69 counts of aggravated indecent assault (10 years), and 23 counts of produce child abuse material (10 years)

He was remanded in custody and expected to appear in court on Friday.

Read more here.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

A person has died after a devastating house fire.

Emergency services were contacted around 6.40pm on Thursday with reports of a fire in the north-west Sydney suburb of South Windsor.

When they arrived at the home on Macquarie Street, it was well alight.

Despite the efforts of Fire and Rescue NSW to extinguish the blaze, the home was destroyed.

A person, who has not been formally identified, was located inside the house deceased.

An investigation into the fire is underway to determine its cause.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

Anyone with information or footage is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police are appealing for assistance after a woman was allegedly touched while jogging.

Around 5.30am on Thursday, police were contacted about an alleged sexual touching incident on Bondi Road, Bondi.

NSW Police officers were told a 33-year-old woman was jogging when she was approached by an unknown man and sexually touched.

The man, who was riding a red bicycle, is described as being Caucasian, aged between 30 and 40, and around 175cm tall.

He was wearing a green jacket, blue shorts, fluro-green shoes, and carrying a black duffle bag.

Anyone with any information or footage is being urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A manhunt is underway for a 32-year-old accused of stealing more than 160 plaques from a cemetery.

Victoria Police said Jacob Rapana is wanted on warrants for a series of thefts from a cemetery in the Melbourne suburb of Cheltenham earlier this month.

Between October 1 and 10, more than 160 brass plaques were stolen from the premises on Charman Road.

Rapana is described as being Pacific Islander/Maori in appearance and around 165cms tall. He has a slim build, long black hair, and a single brown eye.

Police said the 32-year-old may be sleeping rough.

Anyone with any information is being urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.