Fire has ripped through a bar under renovation in South Melbourne, partly owned by Collingwood star Dane Swan.
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Up to 70 firefighters are battling the blaze at the three-storey pub, close to the South Melbourne Market.
Detective acting senior sergeant David Cox said the attack left the worker dazed but not seriously injured.
Swan co-owns the venture along with former Melbourne Storm players Robby Kearns and Matt Williams. Detectives are reportedly treating the fire as suspicious.
Police have not commented on reports that two men wearing balaclavas were seen entering the building before the fire. “We hope to get in there soon and have a real thorough examination”, DSS Cox said.
The Metropolitan Fire Brigade said that York Street is now closed as crews battle the blaze, but stressed that there was no danger to the community. Most of the damage has been contained to the pub but a building next door has also been damaged.
A large plume of smoke is billowing across South Melbourne.
A SITE manager may have been assaulted before a massive fire broke out at a Melbourne pub part-owned by Collingwood and ex-Melbourne Storm players.
There was no indication the blaze was part of a threat against the pub’s associates, police said.
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The former nightclub was under renovation and was due to open as a rooftopbar in just over a week, according to the building’s website.
