Two men have been charged over an alleged arson attack on a popular burger shop in Melbourne's south, but police say they don't believe the incident was a hate crime.
The Burgertory store on the corner of Glen Huntly and Hawthorn roads, Caulfield, was destroyed by fire on November 10 last year.
The owner of the burger store, pro-Palestinian activist Hasheam Tayeh, previously claimed the firebombing of his restaurant was a hate crime, as tensions between local Palestinian and Israeli groups escalated.
The fire at the restaurant prompted a major rally at the scene, with opposing protesters clashing on the street.
But Victoria Police inspector Scott Dwyer yesterday said the alleged crime was not motivated by those tensions.
"We know this incident was not a hate crime; it wasn't motivated by prejudice or politics," he said.
"Not only did this blaze destroy a business, it also put innocent members of the public at risk of being injured."
Detectives have now charged a 27-year-old man from St Albans with arson and theft of motor vehicle.
He has been bailed to appear in court tomorrow.
A 25-year-old man from Preston has been charged with arson, robbery, theft of motor vehicle and other offences.
He has been remanded to appear in court today.