Three men have been charged over a Melbourne arson attack that spread to an adjoining factory, killing two workers as they slept.
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Two of the men are accused of starting the blaze in a panel shop which quickly jumped to the Sunshine North factory behind it, about 4am on February 23.
Two workers, aged 42 and 48, were sleeping inside the rear premises and died at the scene.
The single-level factory was engulfed by the time fire crews arrived and it took three hours for about 50 firefighters to get the blaze under control.
A white dual cab ute alleged to have been utilised in the incident was later found burnt out on Gisborne Road in Coimadai on February 24.
Detectives last week released footage of the vehicle, which was seen pulling up outside the panel shop on Bunnett Street, Sunshine North, the previous day about 3.51am. One man allegedly exited and emptied a jerry can on the shop door before setting it alight.
Police late on Tuesday executed warrants on four addresses Kurunjang and Melton South.
They say they seized a gel blaster from the Kurunkang address and found a sword, two machetes, two knives and a quantity of what appears to be cannabis at one of the Melton South addresses.
A 19-year-old Kurunjang man and an 18-year-old Melton South man have been charged with two counts of arson causing death, three counts of criminal damage by fire and theft of a vehicle.
They were expected to appear in Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Tuesday night.
A 19-year-old Melton South man has been charged with assisting an offender (arson causing death), three counts of criminal damage by fire and weapons offences.
He was bailed to appear before Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.
Australian Associated Press
