CCTV footage of three people firebombing a commercial unit complex twice in a week has been released in what police believe were targeted incidents against a well-known influencer.
Queensland Police shared footage of three masked people setting two businesses alight at Distribution Court in Arundel on the Gold Coast in June.
The first suspicious fire was at family lunchware business The Bento Buzz at about 3.30am on Saturday, June 24.
Eye Candy Motorsports, owned by influencer Troy ‘Candy’ Williams, was targeted next at about 3.30am Wednesday, June 28.
Mr Williams owns several businesses and is known online for his flashy giveaways through discount subscription service, LMCT+.
Queensland Police have shared CCTV footage of three masked people setting two businesses alight (pictured, the pair responsible for firebombing Eye Candy Motorsports)
CCTV footage of the fires shows one person hidden by a black mask jumping over a fence with a jerry can and large hammer.
They then walked across the grounds to unit 26, home of The Bento Buzz, and poured an accelerant inside before lighting a match and running.
Arsonists returned to the grounds just four days later to target Mr Williams’ car wrap business, Eye Candy Motorsports.
Video shows a pair of masked crooks, one wearing a high-visibility uniform while the other wore black, walking towards unit 16.
They then used a ladder to scale the side of the unit before cutting a hole in the roof and pouring an accelerant inside.
Footage shows a dramatic burst of fire exploding from the roof.
It’s understood six vehicles, including a Rolls Royce, were inside Eye Candy Motorsports at the time of the fire. One sustained minor damage.
Detective Acting Inspector Mark Proctor believes the incident was an ‘organised’ and targeted attack.
One of the businesses belonged to Troy ‘Candy’ Williams (pictured with partner Anita Cassin)
A pair of masked crooks climbed the roof of Eye Candy Motorsports and set it alight (above) at 3.30am on June 28
‘We think the first fire was an accident, they got the wrong unit, and we believe we came back the second time better prepared,’ he said.
‘They created a lot more damage and we believe the second unit is their intended target.
‘The first attempt was pretty amateurish, the second was quite organised – you can see in the footage the explosion it made. It’s quite elaborate, it’s quite a lot.
‘Normally when you talk about people targeting businesses something is thrown through the front window… This is gone to a lot of trouble to either send a message or to cause financial detriment to the person.’
Det Insp Proctor added Mr Williams is ‘in the dark’ over who would target him.
‘Obviously it was some kind of payback or to cause some kind of financial detriment. His business is ruined, it’s closed. It was uninsured,’ he said.
‘He [Troy Candy] has been very cooperative with police. He has provided statements and he has done basically everything we’ve asked of him.
‘But he’s in the dark as well.’
The owner of The Bento Buzz, Peta, has been equally devastated by the fire at her shop.
Lunchware business The Bento Buzz was targeted by a masked arsonist (above) at about 3.30am on June 24
Peta, the owner of The Bento Buzz, said she couldn’t ‘stop crying’ after her business was burned down (pictured, the fire in The Bento Buzz warehouse)
‘My heart is broken and I can’t stop crying,’ she told her 42,000 followers.
‘I have no other words for now, I need to wrap my head around this devastating turn of events.
‘Thank you for your support of our family business over the last eight years.
‘It’s meant the world to me.’
Queensland Police urged anyone with information about the people seen in the CCTV footage or the fires to contact Policelink at 131 444.
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