AN eight-year-old boy has died from burns suffered in a Darwin unit fire police believe could be linked to a series of early morning arson attacks.
Northern Territory police say early this morning arsonists in Darwin were responsible for setting four vehicles on fire, as well as a blaze in a unit and an attempt to torch a tavern.
Assistant Commissioner Mark Payne said up to 40 police had been drafted into the investigation.
"Police officers saturated the area," he said in Darwin.
"Forensic experts are at the scene at the moment collecting evidence about what the source of ignition was".
About 5am (CST) today NT firefighters extinguished a fire at the Hibiscus Shopping Centre car park that wrecked two utility vehicles.
Arsonists also broke into a tavern at the shopping centre and attempted to set it alight.
