A shisha bar located in Noble Park, Melbourne’s north-east, was set ablaze shortly after a staff member was threatened at gunpoint. The incident occurred around 11:40 PM last night when two masked men entered the Arabian Lounge and Cafe, brandishing a firearm and demanding the CCTV hard drives from the worker.
At the time of the attack, two patrons were present inside the establishment. The assailants held the employee hostage, instructing him to move to a specific area of the shop. They subsequently poured an accelerant around the premises and ignited it, leading to substantial damage to the building. Fortunately, the customers managed to escape unharmed before the fire spread.
Sunny Singh, the owner of the café who acquired the business just a few months ago, revealed that he had recently invested $250,000 on renovations, which included the addition of a new pool table delivered only days prior to the attack. Singh expressed his distress over the incident, noting that this was the second assault on the premises this year. Earlier in March, a vehicle rammed into the storefront, resulting in a fire that damaged both the car and the cafe.
As of now, there have been no arrests related to the arson or the armed robbery. The local police are continuing their investigation into the disturbing events that unfolded at the Arabian Lounge and Cafe.