A Melbourne service station worker 'feared for his life' after being sprayed with petrol by a masked man who threatened to set him on fire.

The robber, who had petrol in a plastic bottle and also a large knife, demanded cash at the service station in Springvale Road, Glen Waverley, in the early hours of Sunday.





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A masked man threatened a petrol station with a large knife before spraying a suspected flammable liquid in his direction. Photo: Victoria Police

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'The threat of being set on fire was imminent' police said of the attack. Photo: Victoria Police

Police say the incident was unusual and the threat level was high.

"The threat of being set on fire was imminent and the attendant was certainly in fear of his life," Detective Senior Constable Jason Stewart said in a statement on Wednesday.

The attendant was not injured and handed over a small amount of cash to the robber, who then fled the store.