A tobacco shop destroyed by fire after being torched twice in two days could be linked to ongoing violent conflict between crime groups.
The first 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.
Emergency crews were again called to the store just before 5am on Friday.
A burnt-out car remains at the shop after Friday morning's fire, with the front of the store completely destroyed.
The tobacco shop has been hit twice in two days and the attack may be linked to gang conflict. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
Investigators are treating the fires as targeted attacks, a crime scene has been established and an arson chemist will attend on Friday.
They will investigate whether the incidents are linked to dozens of other fires that 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.
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