Victoria
Police arrest Bandidos member over botched Melton arson attack
Police have arrested several people, including a patched Bandidos member, following a raid on a bikie clubhouse in Ballarat.
Victoria Police have arrested several people, including a patched member of the Bandidos outlaw motorcycle gang, during a raid on a clubhouse in Ballarat. The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into a series of recent incidents, including an alleged firebombing in Melton where an offender mistakenly set himself on fire.
According to reporting by wire services, officers executed warrants at the Ballarat property following intensive investigations into regional disputes. The operation targeted individuals believed to be connected to the failed arson attempt and other related criminal activities in the outer-western areas of Melbourne and regional Victoria.
The Melton incident involved an attempted arson attack on a property that went wrong. Investigators believe one of the suspects accidentally ignited his own clothing during the attack, causing him to flee the scene with injuries. Police have been tracing the movements of the suspects in the period following the event.
During the raid on the Ballarat property, police seized various items of interest to the investigation. The patched Bandidos member and several associates were taken into custody at the scene. Authorities have not yet finalised the list of charges, but they are expected to relate to arson, conspiracy, and association with criminal organisations.
The investigation remains active as detectives search for further evidence linking the suspects to other unsolved incidents in the region. Police have urged anyone with dashcam footage or further information regarding the Melton firebombing to contact investigators.
Watch for updates on the formal charges expected to be laid against the arrested individuals in the coming days.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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