A Sydney building linked to the Obeid family which was deliberately set alight twice within days was the subject of a development application, NSW Police have confirmed.
Security footage released by police on Wednesday appears to show two men lighting fires which tore through the Bellevue Reception Centre at Bankstown.
The fires happened almost a week apart in December 2016 and January 2017.
AAP understands the reception centre is owned by the company Redpoc whose directors are Paul Obeid, son of corrupt former NSW minister Eddie Obeid, and a former business partner of the ex-MP, Walhan Wehbe.
Police on Wednesday would not confirm whether the fires might be linked to the Obeids instead saying the focus of the investigation was identifying the two men seen in the footage.
"With all deliberately lit fires there is a reason and that is a strong line of inquiry," Detective Superintendent Murray Chapman told reporters.
"It's a deliberate act to destroy property, there's no doubt about it."
Police were aware of a development application lodged for the site and have not ruled out its relevance, Det Supt Chapman said.
The CCTV footage shows an XR model Ford utility seen in the area about the time of the fire.
Detectives want to speak to anyone who recognises the people or the ute.
Both fires had the potential to be catastrophic and could have resulted in injury or loss of life.
"What's depicted in the footage is incredibly dangerous and those men are lucky they didn't kill themselves," Det Supt Chapman said.
The first fire was put out relatively quickly on Boxing Day 2016 but left significant smoke damage while the second blaze, on January 3, caused major damage to the building.
