Nightclub firebombed as Melbourne 'grog wars' escalate

A popular Melbourne nightclub has fallen victim to the escalating hospitality wars.

Shattered glass and discarded jerry cans were left scattered across the corner of King and Little Bourke Sts following the targeted attack on La Di Da.

Police believe the club was set on fire about 3.30am on Tuesday.

There was a large police presence outside the venue on Tuesday as workers made their early commute.

Sections of the club were cordoned off, with detectives moving through the interior with torches.

No one was inside the venue at the time of the incident.

Detectives from Operation Eclipse, launched last week to investigate the motives behind the targeting of hospitality venues, will investigate.

The fire is being treated as suspicious. It follows a spate of attacks on venues in so-called "grog wars".

Late on Sunday night a family of five was forced to flee their home after two cars were set alight in their driveway in Caulfield North.

Residents in Prahan where a nightclub was firebombed on Chapel Street early on Monday have come together in a movement concerned about growing crime in the area.

One local, Sandy Petrovic-Defteros, who launched the group, said she has become so used to local arson attacks she has learned to identify them by smell.