Two men have been arrested over a burger shop fire in Melbourne that sparked a violent clash between supporters of Palestine and Israel.
The blaze was deliberately lit and it was not a hate crime, Victoria Police said on Wednesday.
The Caulfield store of the Burgertory chain was destroyed by fire on November 10.
At the time, the owner claimed it was linked to his involvement in a pro-Palestine rally and alleged it was a hate crime.
Hours after he made the claim, two groups of about 200 people each clashed near a synagogue and the Burgertory store.
One man was pepper-sprayed by police and another reported receiving minor injuries after being hit by a rock.
On Wednesday, a 27-year-old man at a Carnegie apartment and a 25-year-old man in Dallas were arrested.
The younger man was taken to hospital under police guard for what officers said were injuries unrelated to the arrest.
A spokesperson for Victoria Police said the men were assisting with inquiries and arson-related charges were expected to be laid.
Victoria Police Inspector Scott Dwyer said the incident was not a hate crime.
"It wasn’t motivated by prejudice or politics," he said in a statement.
“Not only did this blaze destroy a business, it also put innocent members of the public at risk of being injured.
“Victoria Police will continue to target anyone connected to criminality that recklessly puts others in harm’s way.”
The clash after the fire prompted an extra police presence in the area.
