MELBOURNE, Australia — Two men have been arrested after allegedly firing multiple gunshots at a café in Melbourne’s north during the early hours of Friday, leaving the business riddled with bullet holes but causing no reported injuries.
According to Victoria Police, officers who were already patrolling the area witnessed the shooting unfold at around 2:45 a.m. on Mount Alexander Road in Essendon North.
Investigators allege multiple shots were fired into the front of the café before the suspects fled the scene in a Toyota Kluger that had previously been reported stolen.
Stolen SUV Tracked by Police Air Wing
Police immediately launched a pursuit using the force’s Air Wing, which tracked the stolen Toyota Kluger as it travelled through Keilor before reaching Taylors Lakes.
Authorities said the vehicle was eventually abandoned on Mahon Court, where the occupants allegedly fled on foot into a nearby property on Old Calder Highway.
Specialist police units quickly surrounded the area and arrested two suspects without further incident.
The men taken into custody are an 18-year-old and a 20-year-old, both of whom remain under police investigation.
Café Left Damaged by Gunfire
Images from the scene showed multiple bullet holes in the café’s glass windows and entrance doors, highlighting the intensity of the attack.
Crime scene investigators spent several hours examining the business, collecting forensic evidence, photographing the damage, and searching for spent shell casings.
Despite the significant property damage, no injuries have been reported, and police have not indicated that anyone was inside the café when the shooting occurred.
Vehicle Had Been Reported Stolen
Police confirmed the Toyota Kluger used in the incident had been reported stolen on May 15, adding another line of inquiry to the investigation.
Detectives are working to determine whether the shooting was a targeted attack and whether the suspects had any connection to the business.
No information has yet been released regarding a possible motive.
Investigation Continues
Victoria Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting and are expected to interview the two arrested men.
Authorities are also reviewing CCTV footage from the area and appealing for anyone with information, dashcam footage, or who witnessed suspicious activity in Essendon North during the early morning hours to contact police.
The incident comes amid ongoing concerns about firearm-related crime across Melbourne, with investigators working to establish whether the attack is linked to other recent incidents.
