By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A BERWICK man was arrested on Wednesday in relation to the fire at the Kittens strip club in Caulfield South the previous day.
Detectives from Victoria Police’s bikie taskforce arrested the 31-year-old about 11am on Wednesday 17 February at a house in Mason Way.
Echo Taskforce detectives also searched the Berwick property.
The man will be interviewed about the strip club fire and other incidents which police believe could be linked.
On Tuesday 16 February police began investigating whether a burnt-out car found in Hallam was linked to the suspicious overnight fire at Kittens.
The blazing BMW was seen in Basil Close just before 6am on Tuesday and came after an explosion and fire gutted the Glen Huntly Road strip club about three hours earlier.
A Basil Close resident said she heard three bangs and saw flames from her bedroom window about 5.30am before she called the fire brigade.
However, she didn’t see anyone at the scene.
“It’s not a very well-lit court,” she said.
Detectives have been told that a ‘pop’ was heard in the vicinity of Kittens just after 3am.
The light-coloured BMW was not listed as stolen but police are working to establish a link between the discovery and reports that a car was heard idling in a laneway behind the strip club.
Taskforce detectives are appealing for witnesses or for anyone with information about the fire or the car to come forward.
There have been two previous attacks targeting another Kittens strip club in South Melbourne since November.
Anyone with information about the explosion is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
