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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Nino Bucci Justice and courts reporter

Firebombings of Victorian tobacco shops surpass 100 as police detail meeting that sparked war

Police Tobacco Victoria Graham Banks Guardian Australia
Victoria police establish a crime scene at a tobacco shop in Melbourne.
Victoria police establish a crime scene at a tobacco shop in Melbourne. The number of such attacks has reached 105, police have confirmed. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

An explosion of tobacco shop arson attacks in Victoria occurred after an underworld bid to control the price of illicit products failed, police believe.

It has been a year since Victoria police established the Lunar taskforce to investigate a spate of arson attacks in the state. Police confirmed the number of attacks has surpassed 100, and was at 105 on Wednesday.

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