Police halted an attempted getaway when three men allegedly tried to escape in a stolen vehicle.

Authorities discovered two of the suspects hiding beneath the Bolte Bridge, while the third was located inside the car, according to official reports.

Upon inspection of the vehicle, officers reportedly found a jerry can, leading to the arrest of all three individuals.

The incident traces back to around 2:30 a.m., when a Molotov cocktail was allegedly hurled at the St George Hotel in South Melbourne.

Following the attack, a group was seen fleeing the area in a car.

Fortunately, the hotel sustained minimal damage, and the premises were unoccupied at the time of the incident.

Detectives from Operation Eclipse, which was set up after a string of fire bombings targeted licensed venues across Melbourne, will now investigate the two attacks.

Police say young offenders are being paid to carry out the crimes.

The bar was filled with people in the early hours when the attackers smashed through the entry and tried to set the venue alight at about 5am.

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