A Bunbury convenience store has been deliberately set alight in a late-night firebombing attack, with authorities now probing potential links to Western Australia's burgeoning and violent illicit vape trade.
Convenience Store Targeted in Deliberate Attack
Emergency services were called to the Spencer Street business in the heart of Bunbury just before 11:30 pm on Tuesday night. Firefighters arrived to find the store well alight and worked for over an hour to bring the blaze under control. The building sustained significant damage, with the interior completely gutted by the intense fire.
Detectives from the Bunbury Criminal Investigation Branch have taken charge of the case, declaring the fire suspicious from the outset. Their investigation quickly determined it was a deliberate act. Police are now meticulously examining CCTV footage from the area, hoping to identify the perpetrators responsible for the dangerous attack.
Illicit Vape Trade Connection Investigated
While the motive is still under formal investigation, senior police sources have indicated a strong line of inquiry is the store's potential connection to the illegal vaping market. This attack has immediately fuelled concerns within law enforcement and the local community that organised crime groups involved in the illicit tobacco and vape trade are escalating their tactics to violence and intimidation.
The incident follows a worrying statewide trend. In recent months, WA has seen a spike in firebombings and violent attacks targeting tobacco stores, convenience shops, and other outlets suspected of selling illegal tobacco products and vapes. This criminal activity is believed to be driven by turf wars between groups fighting for control of the lucrative black market, which has grown following increased taxation and regulation of legal nicotine products.
Community and Police Response
Local residents have expressed shock and fear following the brazen attack on a suburban shopping strip. The use of a firebomb poses a severe risk not only to the targeted business but also to adjacent properties and the safety of the wider community.
WA Police have reiterated their commitment to tackling the organised crime networks behind the illicit trade. A police spokesperson urged anyone with information about the Bunbury firebombing or related criminal activity to come forward. "This was a reckless act that endangered the community," the spokesperson stated. "We are following several lines of enquiry and believe this is linked to organised criminal activity."
The Bunbury attack serves as a stark reminder of the real-world consequences of the illegal vape and tobacco trade, which extends far beyond regulatory breaches into serious, violent crime. As the investigation continues, business owners and residents are left anxious, wondering if this attack is an isolated incident or a sign of a worsening conflict on Western Australia's streets.
