Shop owners shocked by arson attack

16th February 2009

AN alleged attack by a local bikie gang which resulted in five shops being ravaged by fire in Maryborough's CBD has left shop-owners in shock and grief.

www.fire.qld.gov.au

AN alleged attack by a local bikie gang which resulted in five shops being ravaged by fire in Maryborough's CBD on Saturday night has left shop-owners in shock and grief.

It is alleged members of the gang deliberately lit Empire Body Piercing on fire after months of threats and attempts to drive the new business out of town.

The fire gutted the shop before spreading through the ceiling to connecting businesses De Lamauta Cafe, Daph's Dream, Carachel Boutique and Kent Street Book Exchange.

Firefighters arrived on the scene at about 7.30pm. They did not put the fire out until 12.50am.

“The most difficult part was trying to get access to the fire in the ceiling,” said a QFS spokesperson.

“Crews had to remove sheets of iron from the roof to put it out.”

The owners of the Kent Street piercing business did not wish to comment to the Chronicle but said they believed media coverage of the threats earlier this year were to blame for the fire.

LJ Hooker principal Alan Wetton, who is the property manager of the body piercing shop's premises, said the owners had advised him previously that threats had been made.

“Because the threats were at the managers of the shop, we weren't too concerned,” he said.

“My understanding is that a member of the gang higher up in the hierarchy told other members to leave them alone.”

Last night police were following up inquires into the suspicious fire but were still asking the public who saw anything suspicious to contact Crime Stoppers.