Three men armed with machetes on the run after failed arson attack in Melbourne’s west

Three Melbourne tobacco shops have been targeted by arsonists overnight, with one attack turning violent.

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Three men armed with machetes are on the run after assaulting two staff members during a failed arson attack at a shop in Flemington.

The group doused the Racecourse Road shop with petrol at around 11:30pm last night before unsuccessfully trying to set it on fire.

As they ran to their getaway car, a Holden Commodore station wagon, one staff member chased them with an axe, taking a swing at the vehicle as it drove away.

Later in the night a ute rammed into two tobaccos shop in Springvale, with offenders pouring liquid outside of a shop but failing to ignite it.

Police will investigate whether the attacks are linked.