Arson investigation under way after Melbourne hotel fire extinguished
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Version 0 of 1. Fire crews have extinguished a deliberately lit fire that destroyed a South Melbourne hotel part-owned by AFL and NRL players, opening the way for detectives and arson chemists to examine the scene. Related: Huge fire guts South Melbourne pub part-owned by AFL player Dane Swan The Albion Hotel was set alight about 6.30am on Monday and it was not until late on Monday night that the Metropolitan fire brigade finally gave the all-clear. The pub is owned by a a group of people including Collingwood’s Dane Swan and former Melbourne Storm players Robbie Kearns and Danny Williams. A construction worker was punched in the face when he disturbed two men wearing ski masks or balaclavas inside the pub, which was to reopen on 16 October after months of renovations. Detective acting senior sergeant David Cox said the attack left the worker dazed but not seriously injured. Police have spoken to the pub’s part owners but are yet to speak to the principal owner, Matt Darcy, the brother of former Western Bulldogs player Luke Darcy. There was no indication the blaze was part of a threat against the pub’s associates, police said. “We’ll keep an open mind about what’s happened,” Cox said. “Specific threats or anything like that are subject to ongoing police investigations.” |