Brisbane Tobacco Shop Firebombed in Early Morning Attack

Police are investigating potential organized crime links after a masked suspect set a tobacconist ablaze, injuring the owner and fleeing the scene.

A masked man entered a Fortitude Valley tobacconist early Thursday morning with a jerry can, assaulted the owner, and allegedly set the store on fire.
CCTV footage shows the suspect fleeing the scene partially on fire, with evidence including a burnt shoe found nearby suggesting he sustained significant burns.
The store owner, who was injured during the altercation, is assisting police with the investigation.
Authorities are exploring connections to recent attacks on tobacco stores in the area and possible links to organized crime.
The suspect fled in a white van, and police are conducting a wide-ranging manhunt, including checks at local hospitals for burn-related injuries.