Arsonist sets himself on fire at popular nightclub

A man set himself on fire after he and two other arsonists torched a popular nightclub in front of shocked witnesses. 

Footage filmed by a bystander captured the moment a trio of masked men fled from the LUX Nightclub in Melbourne's South Yarra shortly before 2am on Thursday.

Minutes earlier, the men were seen getting out of a small blue hatchback and carrying jerry cans into the nightclub in full view of witnesses on the street.

On their way out, one man was seen trying to extinguish his pants and sleeves which had set alight after dousing the nightclub. 

A second man tried patting down the clothes while a third was seen pouring more accelerant onto the footpath outside the club.

The trio got back into the hatchback and were last seen driving north along Chapel Street toward Richmond. 

Bystander Erik Lund was on his way home when he spotted the balaclava-clad men entering the club.  

'I saw some guy kicking this shutter and then I realised something was actually happening, not just vandalism,' Mr Lund told the Herald Sun.

'[I saw] them running in, breaking in, the alarm started going off, and then it's like quiet for a minute, then suddenly they all came running out with fire on their hands and clothes and behind them and everything.'

Mr Lund claimed to have seen one of the men carrying an axe or sledgehammer.

He called triple-0 and emergency services arrived to extinguish the blaze.

Up to 50 firefighters and 15 fire trucks raced to the scene to battle the inferno on the top floor of the nightclub, which took almost two hours to extinguish.

The blaze spread to a neighbouring clothes shop, which was also damaged.

Nobody was inside either building at the time and no injuries were reported. 

Police have launched an investigation into the incident, which is bring treated as supicious. 

No arrests or charges have yet been laid. 

Read More

Watch the sickening attack that's left a teen too afraid to leave the house or return to school

The incident was one of three suspicious fires across Melbourne overnight.

Arson and Explosives Squad Detective Inspector Chris Murray said it was only a matter of time before someone is killed.

'The behaviour of these offenders is nothing short of frightening,' he said.

'While I know some people think it's funny to see people light themselves on fire in situations like this, the reality is that we could have had a number of people killed as a result of this fire.

'We have said it before and we'll say it again – it is only sheer luck that stands between a fire that damages a property and a fire that kills dozens of people.

'Fire is absolutely uncontrollable and the sheer recklessness of this offending is just abhorrent.'

'Someone will eventually die from these mindless arsonists who give no thought to the deadly consequences of their actions.'

Insp Murray urged the public to come forward with any information they may have regarding the arsonists. 

He also requested medical professionals who have treated suspicious burns and pharmacists who have sold burn treatments speak to authorities immediately. 

Chapel Street remained closed until mid-morning Thursday due to structural damage to the fire-affected building.

A community alert regarding smoke in the area was also issued.

Acting Assistant chief fire officer Mitch Simons said the club would need a 'complete rebuild'.

'[Fire crews] found the premises on the second floor was fully alight with flames starting to go through the roof,' he told 3AW.

'It's a complete rebuild, fire engulfed the whole area of the nightclub and in the roof.

'Once the windows broke and the air got in, the fire really took hold through the roof then there was not much we could do.'

Two other Middle Eastern cafes are also being investigated after each experienced their own suspected arson attack in the same night. 

Kasr Sweets cafe in Coolaroo was partially set alight when a car drove into it at 1.10am before another was driven into Fayrouz Cafe in Caroline Springs around 3am.

The Kasr Sweets cafe which sells Lebanese sweets remained cordoned off well into the morning while teams worked to evaluate its damage after a car drove into it.

'Emergency services were called ... after reports a car had been driven into a confectionery store and a fire occurred,' police said in a statement.

'Fire crews extinguished the blaze which damaged the store and nearby premises. Fortunately no one was injured.

'Police will investigate whether the incident is linked to any other recent incidents.'

A second car also caused extensive damage at the Fayrouz Cafe.

Residents living in apartments above the cafe were evacuated and told to find alternate accommodation for the time being.

Dozens of apartments suffered smoke and water damage and inspectors have said residents cannot return until the structural integrity of the building is ensured.   

Detectives are investigating whether the fire at LUX and the incident at Fayrouz Cafe are connected to another suspected firebombing in the city's north.