Three men allegedly linked to a bikie gang have been arrested after a twice-targeted tobacco shop was destroyed by fire and another was set alight on Christmas day.
Victoria Police were on Friday investigating after a blaze broke out at a shopfront on Pier Street in Altona just before 4am on Thursday.
The offenders allegedly smashed the front window before throwing jerry cans into the business and setting it alight.
Emergency crews were again called to the store just before 5am on Friday.
A burnt-out car remained at the shop after the fire with the front of the store destroyed.
Police were investigating whether the incidents were linked to dozens of other fires that damaged tobacco shops in Melbourne and regional Victoria during the past year.
Later on Friday, officers arrested three men who they alleged were linked to the Finks Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.
They alleged the men were connected to the fires at the Altona business, as well as to an arson attack at a Croydon tobacco shop on Christmas day.
Police alleged offenders rammed a vehicle through the door of the Main Street business during that attack, before setting the shop alight.
Officers have previously said the firebombings are believed to be linked to a conflict over illegal tobacco between Middle Eastern organised crime groups and outlaw motorcycle gangs who use youths, street gangs and low-level criminals to carry out offending.
