Asian grocer firebombed in Melbourne's west

An Asian grocer in Melbourne's west has been damaged in what police have described as a firebombing, with offenders still on the run.

墨尔本西郊一家亚裔杂货店遭到破坏，警方定性为纵火袭击，目前嫌疑人仍在逃。

The Asia Lane Grocery in Deer Park was set alight just before 11pm yesterday. Multiple fire trucks attended the scene, and firefighters worked quickly to extinguish the blaze. Fire crews brought it under control within five minutes.

位于迪尔帕克（Deer Park）的“亚洲巷杂货店”于昨日深夜11点前被点燃。多辆消防车赶赴现场，消防员迅速将火势扑灭，并在五分钟内控制了局面。

The shopfront's glass door and window were smashed in, and many of the grocery items inside were burnt. Police said an investigation into the incident was ongoing as they tried to find those responsible.

店铺的玻璃门和窗户被砸碎，店内许多杂货被烧毁。警方表示，调查正在进行中，以追查责任人。

"It is understood unknown offenders gained access to the business on Ballarat Road just before 11pm," a spokesperson said. "There was no one inside at the time."

发言人称：“据悉，不明身份者在昨晚11点左右进入巴拉拉特路（Ballarat Road）的店铺。当时店内无人。”

Local shop owner, Henlui Tng, who lives in an apartment above his shop on Ballarat Road, said he smelt smoke at roughly 10pm. "When I woke up I smelt something. I thought something inside my house was burning," he said. "I'm still a little bit [scared]. I don't know what's going on."

店主黄林通（音译，Henglui Tng）住在店铺上方的公寓里，他表示晚上10点左右闻到了烟味。“我醒来时闻到一股味道，以为家里什么东西在烧，”他说，“我现在还有点害怕，不知道发生了什么。”

A shop next door was closed on Friday due to the suspected sale of illegal tobacco. "This one was closed on Friday," Mr Tng said. "The police came and closed it."

隔壁的一家店铺因涉嫌销售非法烟草，于周五被查封。“那家店周五就被关了，”黄先生表示，“警察来查封的。”

"This notice is issued because I reasonably suspect that illicit tobacco is being sold or otherwise on the premises," a Victorian Police notice posted on the shopfront stated.

张贴在店门口的维多利亚州警方告示写道：“发布此通知是因为我有合理理由怀疑该场所正在销售或存放非法烟草。”

Numerous venues across Melbourne have been caught in the crossfire of the illegal cigarette trade, dubbed the tobacco wars, over the past three years.

过去三年间，墨尔本众多场所卷入非法香烟交易的交火中，这一现象被称为“烟草战争”。

Anyone with information about the Asian grocer firebombing is urged to contact CrimeStoppers.

警方敦促任何掌握纵火袭击线索的人士联系犯罪举报热线（CrimeStoppers）。