Two people were seriously injured and at least two businesses destroyed in an arson attack at a Browns Plains tobacconist.
While police remain uncertain as to whether the attack was linked to organised crime, this is not the first time the Forestglen Crescent tobacconist has been the target of an attack, with a car driving through the front of the premises last year.
It has joined a long list of tobacconists across Logan and the country destroyed by firebombings. The issue is so wide-spread it prompted a statewide taskforce in Queensland that remains operational.
According to police, emergency services were called to the store at around 12.15am on 30 May to reports the building was engulfed in flames.
“On attendance two men were fleeing the rear of the premises suffering severe burns,” police said in a statement.
“The men have told police that unknown males have entered the premises and poured a substance inside before setting it on fire.”
The injured men, aged 47 and 54, were taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital with potentially life-threatening burns.
Their conditions remain serious, but not life-threatening.
A crime scene was subsequently declared.
Acting detective inspector Daniel Cunningham at a press conference later that day said firefighters found one of the men inside the shop and the other just outside.
It is believed they were hired by the business-owners to provide security, following what police said were “recent threats over the last couple of months”.
While Mr Cunningham refused to reveal the content of the threats, but said they would “form part of our investigation”.
The investigations, dubbed Operation X-Ray Tank, have involved both local and state forensic and crime intelligence officers.
So far, police believe the attack was orchestrated by at least two men who forced entry into the store.
“Once inside, they poured an accelerant around. While pouring that accelerant, some of it has splashed on our victims,” Mr Cunningham said.
“They have then ignited that accelerant. We believe that is the cause of [the fire and injuries].”
In the last year, local police have investigated similar attacks at tobacconists in Daisy Hill, Jimboomba, Acacia Ridge, and Mount Isa.
Taskforce Masher, created last year to investigate attacks on tobacconists, have been involved in several local incidents.
Mr Cunningham appealed to locals for information and footage, and said there is not believed to be any threat to the broader public.
“But we will keep an open mind to it and any links to previous incidents that have occurred.”
A store adjacent to the Browns Plains tobacconist, a family business called Protea Delights which sells South African goods, was also destroyed in the blaze.
“We haven’t been able to get inside but from what we heard from the investigating officers, it doesn’t look good. We’ve suffered significant damage,” store owner Estie Dercksen said on Friday afternoon.
The fire tore right through the wall dividing the two businesses, and the South African store appeared inundated with water.
“This is our income. It is just myself and my husband who own it – this is what’s sustaining us as a family,” Ms Dercksen said.
“The computer shop next to us, it doesn’t look like they’ve got any fire damage, just water damage.”
