By CASEY NEILL
A BOMB explosion on a Dandenong front porch has prompted an arson warning from police.
Greater Dandenong CIU Detective Senior Constable Ryan Johnson has appealed for information about the blast on Tuesday 4 November and two other suspicious fires in Noble Park and Dandenong.
Arsonists placed the bomb on the front porch of a home in Dandenong Street, Dandenong, about 3.20am on Melbourne Cup day.
“The device exploded, causing minor damage,” Sen Const Johnson said.
“It failed to ignite the premises. No one was injured.”
He said the device included a plastic container and a spray paint can or similar item.
“It could have done some damage if it had got the desired effect,” he said.
“This time of year we have a real problem with arson.
“At this time of year the smallest little fire and it wouldn’t take much to have another recurrence of the catastrophic fires we had a few years ago with Black Saturday.”
A resident in Langley Crescent, Dandenong, saw three men running from his burning fence through neighbouring parkland about 3.30am last Tuesday, 11 November.
The fire destroyed 1.5 metres of fencing before the CFA could extinguish it.
A suspicious fire caused extensive damage to a unit in Fintonia Road, Noble Park, about 2.30am on 31 October.
Sen Const Johnson said no one was injured because the unit was vacant.
He said residential Greater Dandenong wasn’t readily associated with bushfire risk.
“But setting fires in a built-up area could potentially be more dangerous,” he said.
Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Greater Dandenong CIU on 9767 7487 with information.
