A suspicious fire at a tobacco shop in Melbourne's west is being probed for possible links to an ongoing violent conflict between crime groups.
The blaze broke out at the shopfront on Pier Street in Altona just before 4am on Thursday.
The offenders smashed the front window before throwing jerry cans into the business and setting it alight.
Victoria Police believes it was a targeted attack.
A burnt-out ute was later found in a nearby park and investigators believe it's likely linked to the blaze.
The fire caused minor damage to the premises and the area has been cordoned off as a crime scene so an arson chemist can begin investigating.
Any witnesses or people with footage are asked to contact authorities.
Dozens of fires have damaged tobacco shops in Melbourne and regional Victoria over the past year.
Police have previously said the firebombings are believed to be linked to a conflict over illegal tobacco between Middle Eastern organised crime groups and outlaw motorcycle gangs who use youths, street gangs and low-level criminals to carry out offending.
