Four men have been charged over their alleged involvement in suspicious fires at Bondi last year.
Just after 2am on Thursday 17 October 2024, two men approached a business on Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach and allegedly poured accelerate underneath the front door before igniting it and fleeing.
The fire self-extinguished; however, significant damage was caused to the premises.
Officers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command attended and commenced an investigation into the incident.
Following inquiries, a 31-year-old man was arrested at a home in Jannali on Friday 18 October and charged with destroy/damage property in company - use fire and possess prohibited drug.
He is next due to appear at Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday 21 January 2025.
A second man, aged 37, was arrested at a correctional facility on Thursday 12 December 2024 and charged with destroy/damage property in company - use fire.
He is next due to appear at Waverley Local Court on Wednesday 22 January 2025.
In a separate incident, emergency services were called to a building on Curlewis Street, Bondi, following reports of a fire about 4.10am on Sunday 20 October 2024.
A business, located on the ground floor of the building, was found well alight and Fire and Rescue NSW attended and extinguished the blaze.
Residents were evacuated from the building; with no injuries reported.
Detectives commenced an investigation into the incident where it was established two men – with their faces concealed and armed with a sledgehammer – had allegedly attended Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach just after 2am on Tuesday 15 October 2024. The pair fled after they were seen by a security guard who contacted police.
Following inquiries, about 8.00am today (Tuesday 14 January 2025), detectives attached to Strike Force Pearl arrested a 40-year-old man at Riverstone Police Station.
He was charged with damage property by fire/explosion in relation to the fire on Sunday 20 October, face blackened/disguised with intent to commit indictable offence, drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, and two counts of never licensed person drive vehicle on road in relation to incident on Tuesday 15 October incident, and fail to comply digital evidence access order direction.
A second man, aged 26, was arrested at a home in Bardia about 8.15am today.
He was taken to Campbelltown Police Station and charged with armed with intent commit indictable offence in relation to incident on Tuesday 15 October, and fail to comply digital evidence access order direction.
Both men were refused bail with the older man due to appear at Waverley Local Court today (Tuesday 14 January 2025), and the younger man to appear at Campbelltown Local Court.
As investigations into the motivation remain ongoing, anyone with information that may assist is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
