An Islamic community centre in Melbourne's north has been fire-bombed after the words "Islamic State" were scrawled on the building, which had already been the subject of several recent arson attacks.
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The Imam Ali Islamic Centre in Fawkner was gutted by the massive blaze on Sunday morning, which is being investigated by Victoria Police's arson and explosives squad and the Melbourne Fire Brigade.
Photographs reveal the words "Islamic State" in English and Arabic on the building, but it remains unclear what motivated the arson attack, which is believed to be the third incident in the past six months.
A member of the local Shia community who attends the Lawson Street prayer centre said the fire would have a devastating impact.
"This is more than a place of worship. It is a place for education and information and community gatherings."
He refused to speculate on who might have been responsible.
"Everything is on the table and I don't think anyone really knows".
Mosques and Islamic community centres have been targets of repeated attacks by far-right groups across Australia, while detectives are also expected to examine sectarian tensions between Shia and Sunni Muslims in Melbourne.
In January, members of the Imam Ali Islamic Centre were denied access to the prayer hall following a dispute with local council.
It is understood the dispute stemmed from a notice issued by Moreland Council about fire safety concerns.
Another community member said the graffiti was a ruse to distract investigators.
"I can tell you it has absolutely nothing to do with Islamic State, and I hope the media and everyone else don't allow themselves to be manipulated. We have a very good idea who's behind this," the man said.
In 2014, a Melbourne real estate spruiker was charged with arson, racial vilification and fraud after he allegedly set fire to a Doncaster house near a mosque, and attempted to blame the blaze on Islamic terrorists by posting a sign that threatened jihad on the owners.
The George Street house was torched on September 19, 2014 - just days after Australia's largest counter-terrorism raids in Sydney and Brisbane and the federal government placing the nation on heightened alert.
The man convicted of the arson attack, Fabrizio Ferrari had expressed interest in buying the house before it went to auction.
