A man and two teenagers have been arrested after a Melbourne eatery was targeted in an alleged arson attack.
The trio allegedly smashed the glass doors of Lebanese restaurant Almina in Docklands and entered the venue about 3.30am on Saturday.
Accelerant was then allegedly poured inside before the eatery was set alight, Victoria Police said in a statement.
The restaurant sustained minor damage before the blaze was extinguished.
“The offenders fled south on Docklands Drive where they attempted to get into a stolen vehicle, before being disturbed by uniform officers who were patrolling the area,” the statement read.
Police said the alleged offenders ran from the scene, before officers found two males allegedly hiding under the Bolte Bridge at Ron Barassi Snr Park.
The pair were arrested.
Another male was arrested after being found in a car on Docklands Drive.
Officers allegedly discovered jerry cans inside the vehicle.
Investigators are set to talk with a 16-year-old Glen Eira area boy, along with a 19-year-old Collingwood man and a 22-year-old Fitzroy North man.
The incident is being investigated by Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit detectives.
A witness told The Herald Sun he heard “loud smashing” before noticing two people dressed in black and wearing balaclavas.
“They had a jerry can, one went inside, and the other one started pouring petrol on the outside,” Charlie Williams said.
Police are also investigating an incident where a Molotov cocktail was allegedly hurled at a venue on Cecil Street in South Melbourne about 2.20am on Saturday.
First responders rushed to the scene and a small fire was extinguished.
The blaze caused minimal damage, a police spokesperson said.
No one had been inside the premises at the time.
Police said the alleged offenders fled before officers arrived and were not found during a search of the area.
A crime scene was set up and investigations are continuing.
Police have urged any witnesses of the incident or anyone with relevant footage to come forward by contacting Crime Stoppers via 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Both incidents would be reviewed by detectives from Operation Eclipse – an operation set up in April in response to recent incidents targeting Melbourne hospitality venues.