The man who allegedly firebombed a Brisbane tobacco store was part of an organised crime syndicate and did so for financial gain, detectives believe.
On December 26, a 34-year-old man entered the Tiger Mart convenience store on Wickham Street in Fortitude Valley about 3.30am. Police on Thursday afternoon arrested the man, Michael Ryan Warburton, at a Gold Coast property.
Police say when he entered the store, Warburton’s identity was concealed, and he spoke with the shop owner.
He then allegedly placed a suspicious item in the store and when confronted by the owner, threatened him with what appeared to be a weapon, before assaulting him.
The man left before returning a short time later with an explosive device, police said.
The tobacconist, near heritage buildings, was extensively damaged.Credit: Nine News
“We believe…the environment that it exists at the moment is that there are a number of entities…that for financial gain are attempting to have illicit tobacco and vapes sold through their stores or through other tobacco stores,” Detective Superintendent David Briese said.
“And when people refuse to do that, what we saw on the 26th unfortunately occurs and that’s what we are investigating.”
Briese said the store was extensively damaged as a result of the blaze.
Read the full article here
