Dezi Freeman detectives set their sights on nightlife crime spree

The detectives who led the investigation into the seven-month-long search for Dezi Freeman will now be tasked with hunting down the elusive crime syndicate terrorising Melbourne’s nightlife scene.

Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said on Wednesday it was puzzling that teenagers with “no links to crime” are being recruited to carry out the escalating violent attacks on the city’s hospitality industry.

The Age revealed on Monday that an Iraq-based organised crime gang also responsible for Melbourne’s tobacco wars is a prime suspect in the three-month-long campaign of firebombings, shootings and kidnappings.

Bush refused to comment on the investigation into the gang; however, he said the elite taskforce – dubbed Operation Eclipse – was working with Australian Federal Police and the Australian Border Force for “obvious reasons”.

The Iraqi-based gang, which is making threats on behalf of “the Cartel”, includes a 23-year-old Australian national living in Baghdad who is already wanted by police over the attempted murder of underworld figure Sam “The Punisher” Abdulrahim, and was a key member of the crime syndicate headed by Kazem “Kaz” Hamad.

Bush said the “highly capable, absolutely relentless” detectives who led Operation Summit – the specialist taskforce that hunted Freeman – will now lead Operation Eclipse, which was established last week in response to the escalating attacks.

The trio leading the operation are Deputy Commissioner Libby Murphy, Assistant Commissioner of Crime Marty O’Brien and Crime Command Detective Superintendent Jason Kelly.

Bush said on Wednesday that 35 arrests and over 140 charges have been laid in connection to the spate of violence. The majority of those arrests are young, lower-level male offenders hired via encrypted messaging apps to carry out the attacks.

“I appeal to every young person that might be thinking about committing a crime like this, think about yourselves, and more importantly, think about the others that you’re damaging and harming,” the commissioner said.

The spate of attacks on inner-city nightlife venues has deployed strikingly similar tactics to the turf war that arose out of the illegal tobacco trade. However, Bush said the offenders’ lack of prior criminal links marked a notable difference.

“Some of these people don’t have [a criminal history] and aren’t [associated] with young gangs that are known to us … which is a little bit unusual,” Bush said.

Publicly, the police timeline marks April 9 as the start of the attacks, but industry, police and security sources have confirmed related incidents date back as early as February.

An encrypted message sent to some venue owners last week warned the arson attacks will not stop.

“We will take it by force if you don’t comply the police can’t help you its inevitable we won’t stop till [sic] we get what we want,” it read.

The motive for the attacks remains unclear, with no demands made of venue owners or promoters.

However, the gang has been particularly ruthless, ordering several kidnappings, assaults and shootings of owners and promoters while partners and children were present.

More than 30 firebombings, shootings, home invasions and kidnappings have been linked to the reign of terror over the past three months.

The targeted venues have so far been concentrated in the nightlife precincts of South Melbourne, Southbank, the CBD and Chapel Street surrounds.

The targets have included The Emerson, The Osborne, The Albion, Platform 1, Left Bank, famed bistro France-Soir and popular city club Bar Bambi.

Two strip clubs, Men’s Gallery and Kittens, and two brothels, Gotham City in South Melbourne and Bodyline in Yarraville, have also been attacked.

The latest incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning, when another suspicious fire broke out at La Di Da nightclub off King Street in the CBD.

The fear and confusion over what is behind the wave of violence has exacerbated the panic among owners, promoters and industry figures.

Several industry figures have gone into hiding since the attacks began, while owners have fortified their venues with bolstered security measures. A 12-metre-long truck has been parked outside The Emerson’s entrance since the club was shot at while patrons were inside.

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