A turf war over security contracts is the likely cause of the firebombing that destroyed a Melbourne strip club, police say.
It took 30 firefighters to bring a suspicious blaze at the Kittens strip club in Caulfield South under control early on Tuesday.
Police say the club, which had its South Melbourne outlet shot at earlier this year, is an innocent victim in a security turf war.
"This is not a vendetta against the Kittens nightclubs per se, we believe it's more a targeted attack at the security industry," Detective Inspector Ian Campbell told radio station 3AW on Tuesday.
Police say there has been an ongoing feud between certain outlaw motorcycle gangs, with disputes over security contracts that include blackmail, extortion, drive-by shootings and now a firebombing.
Taskforce Echo - which investigates bikie gangs - has taken control of the investigation and Mr Campbell says those involved "can expect a knock on the door today", with a number of persons of interest being investigated.
The taskforce is also examining a burnt-out BMW in Hallam, which was seen by a witness leaving the scene of the fire.
A "pop" was heard near the club about 3am, before the fire took hold and caused significant damage to the building.
Flames reached up to 20 metres high before they were brought under control, the MFB said.
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