A Queensland business owner is distraught after his burger chain was hit by two suspected arson attacks across two suburbs.
Emergency services were called to the Grubbies Burgers and Hawaiian BBQ restaurant at Redbank Plains in southeast Queensland about 1.20am after reports a fire had broken out.
Just 50 minutes later the chain’s Strathpine restaurant was also engulfed in flames.
Police believe both fires are linked and are the alleged target of an arson attack.
Business owner Ben Niumata told 9 News he was devastated over both incidents.
He said the Redbank Plains location suffered external damage as a result of the fire, while the Strathpine restaurant fire affected the inside of the building.
“I’m a little bit emotional, I got home from work last night about midnight and got a call at 1am that there was a break-in at our store so I rushed down here,” Mr Niamuta said.
He said the stores had also caught fire in early last year and said he doesn’t know what he had done to “deserve” the alleged attack.
CCTV is expected to be used in the investigations, as two separate crime scenes have been established by Queensland Police.