A man has refused to appear before a magistrate over his alleged involvement in the firebombing of a Melbourne burger store, which triggered conjecture over its motivation.
The no-show came as the owner of the shop rebuffed criticism of his initial description of the attack as a hate crime, a claim police have since ruled out.
Wayle Mana, 25, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with arson, robbery, vehicle theft and other offences, with detectives alleging he and another man last year set fire to the Burgertory restaurant, in Caulfield.
They also say he was involved in setting alight a tobacco store in Bendigo on Monday, which resulted in more than $4 million worth of damage.
That blaze is not related to the ongoing battle over illicit tobacco that has seen more than 30 shops firebombed in Melbourne and beyond, police say.
Mana, who is from Preston, refused to appear before Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Thursday due to a severe leg injury.
He was remanded in custody in his absence while investigators produce a DNA report and transcribe a telephone intercept.
Burgertory was razed on November 10.
At the time, owner Hash Tayeh claimed the attack was linked to his involvement in a pro-Palestine rally and labelled it a hate crime.
Police maintain that although the fire was deliberately lit there's no evidence it was racially or politically motivated.
Hours after the owner made the claim, two groups of about 200 people clashed near the eatery and a local synagogue.
One man was pepper-sprayed by police and another reported receiving minor injuries after being hit by a rock.
Mr Tayeh defended his original comments on Thursday.
"How would you have felt if you shop was firebombed after two weeks of constant harassment, abuse and intimidation," he said on social media.
In addition to Mana, detectives have charged a 27-year-old St Albans man with arson and car theft.
He has been bailed to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Victoria's opposition has called on the government to increase police resources.
