Trio charged following ACDC Lane arson attack

Published:
Saturday 25 April 2026 at 11:37 pm

Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit detectives have charged three teenage boys following an alleged arson attack in Melbourne’s CBD this morning.

Melbourne City Council staff spotted a suspicious vehicle on safety cameras near the corner of Flinders and ACDC lanes, notifying police shortly after 5am.

Officers quickly arrived at the scene and found the front of a licensed premises on ACDC Lane alight.

Swift-footed police chased down two offenders, quickly taking them into custody.

A third person was arrested in a nearby laneway a short time later.

Detectives charged and remanded all three boys this evening:

  • A 17-year-old from the Darebin area was charged with criminal damage by fire, burglary, theft of motor vehicle, handle stolen goods and commit indictable offence while on bail
  • A 16-year-old boy from the Hume area was charged with criminal damage by fire, burglary, theft of motor vehicle and handle stolen goods
  • A 15-year-old boy from the Merri-bek area was charged with criminal damage by fire, burglary, theft of motor vehicle and handle stolen goods

The trio will appear before a children’s court at a later date.

Leonie Johnson

Media Unit

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Updated