Police believe a fire that damaged the Polish White Eagle Club earlier this week was deliberately lit and have linked it to a burglary.
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They revealed a safe and cash register were stolen during the incident, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
ACT Policing called for anyone who may have witnessed anything suspicious in the area that night to come forward.
Polish Club president Barbara Alwast said she had only just been able to go inside the club to see the damage.
“It’s devastating for us because it will be weeks if not months before we can reopen again,” she said.
She said the club had been there for many years without incident, before a burglary at the beginning of the year and then this week’s attack.
However, while the attack had devastated club members, the incident had also restored her faith in humanity through the many offers of help from the community.
The nearby Turner Bowling Club, for example, had offered its premises free for the five Polish groups that normally met at the club. The Croation Club was also helping, hosting a Polish butcher who came to Canberra fortnightly.
Emergency services were called to the Turner club about 2am on Tuesday after receiving reports of a fire.
They found a ''significant amount of smoke'' coming from the rear of the building when they arrived on the scene.
Firefighters managed to put out the fire soon after, but not before the kitchen and store room had been gutted.
The rest of the building suffered extensive smoke and water damage.
Police on Friday revealed investigations concluded the fire had been deliberately lit, but the exact method of ignition was still to be determined.
The club – a popular music venue with a well-known Polish restaurant – was due to reopen next week after recovering from a recent break in.
Anyone with information in relation to this incident should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers website at www.act.crimestoppers.com.au.
Information to Crime Stoppers can be provided anonymously.