CBD nightclub La Di Da has become the latest victim of Melbourne’s raging pub wars.
The venue, located on the corner of King and Little Bourke streets, was set on fire about 3.30am Tuesday when three offenders wearing hoodies entered the club.
The Herald Sun has been told the offenders started the fire by throwing two jerry cans containing some sort of fuel into the venue, including onto its main dance floor.
Glass entrance doors on the nightclub’s King St side were smashed in during the attack.
Police have been told a vehicle was seen leaving the premises around the time of the incident.
That vehicle is understood to be a white Mercedes of similar make and model as the car used in Monday’s firebombing attack on Electric bar on Chapel St in Prahran.
The owner of the club declined to comment when approached by the Herald Sun with figures across the state’s hospitality industry living in fear of attack.
The Herald Sun on Monday revealed a brutal criminal syndicate dubbed “The Ghost” has warned Melbourne nightclub owners that it will target their “family … businesses, homes and souls” in a chilling text message.
Detectives have been alerted to the message, understood to have been sent to several venue owners last week.
The text reads: “If you got this message were (sic) after you, your (sic) family, your (sic) business, homes and souls. We will take it by force if you don’t comply, the police can’t help you.
“It’s inevitable we won’t stop till we get what we want,” the text continues.
The message has been sent amid a campaign of arson attacks, bashings and attempted kidnappings that has targeted 16 separate venues in 23 related incidents since March 26.