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A security guard was inside his car when an arsonist threw flammable liquid and Molotov cocktails at an Adelaide tobacco warehouse in Norwood, sparking a van fire.
A security guard has described a terrifying ordeal after an arsonist tried to torch his car with him still inside during a firebomb attack at a tobacco warehouse in Adelaide. Hassan Zahid was keeping watch over the building on Beulah Road in Norwood when a van exploded in flames at 6.30am, sending black smoke and bright orange fumes into the air.
Security Guard Confronts Suspect Before Blaze
Zahid said he first noticed a man at the front door of the building and rolled down his car window to warn him that he could not be there. The guard said the man was holding a blue jerry can, which left him certain the visitor had come to burn down the place.
The man walked off but soon returned with what appeared to be a flammable liquid. Zahid said the suspect was holding roughly two litres of the substance and opened the bottle cap before throwing the liquid at his car.
After the liquid was thrown, the suspect jumped a fence and threw Molotov cocktails at the van. Zahid described the experience as horrific and bizarre, saying he could not have imagined it.
Van Explodes as Firebombs Hit Nearby Business
The van burst into flames at 6.30am, producing black smoke and bright orange fumes that rose into the air near the tobacco warehouse. One of the firebombs struck a neighbouring building by mistake.
Steve Clark, a locksmith who works next door, said he is thinking about moving his business if the arson attacks continue. He said the situation was scary and that his premises had been hit once, adding that he does not want to be hit again.
Norwood Arson Attack Raises Safety Concerns
The attack on Beulah Road has left workers in the area worried about their safety and the future of their businesses. The guard was inside his vehicle when the flammable liquid was thrown, and the van was set alight shortly afterwards.
No injuries have been reported in the incident, but the firebombing has heightened concerns among nearby traders. Clark said the decision to relocate would depend on whether the arson attacks persist.
Authorities have not announced any arrests in connection with the Norwood firebombing. The attack remains under investigation as the local community seeks answers about who was responsible and why the tobacco warehouse was targeted.
Adelaide Arson Attack Hassan Zahid Norwood Tobacco Warehouse Steve Clark Beulah Road Molotov Cocktails Security Guard
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