A gang of machete-wielding Asian teenagers is on the run in Melbourne after two brothers were attacked and left with horrific slash wounds after being ambushed when they turned up to what they thought would be a one-on-one fight.
The victims, who are both 15, met up with eleven other teenagers at a park off Garretty Road in Caroline Springs at about 5.40pm on December 30 when they were attacked, Victoria Police said on Wednesday.
Detectives have been told the incident was sparked by an online argument between two parties who did not personally know each other, and believe the victims, who are from the Melton area, were lured to the reserve before being attacked by the larger group.
At least one of the attackers was armed with a machete, and the assault left one boy with facial injuries and the other with significant slash injuries to his arm and back. Both were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Police arrived after witnesses who saw the machete called Triple-Zero, but the attackers had already fled the scene.
Melton Crime Investigation Unit Senior Constable Daniel Rankin said the attack was “brazen and cowardly”, as the two victims had arrived expecting a fair fight, and one of the weapons used was a “zombie killer” style machete.
“It’s a cowardly attack, they were expecting to go to a one-vs-one fight – which police don’t condone – however, to be ambushed by 11 individuals, several of whom were armed with machetes … as a society we need to stamp this stuff out,” he said.
He said one boy had his head stomped on and the other jumped into a nearby lake to escape.
Investigators have released vision of the group of teenagers walking along the street before the incident, and of a vehicle of interest.
“Enquiries have revealed seven of the offenders arrived and parked in Boathouse Drive in a black Ford Ranger ute bearing false registration DRY685,” police said.
“CCTV captures eight offenders leave in the vehicle, with the other three offenders last seen running towards Lorimer Street about 5.45pm.
“Those involved are believed to be aged between 15-18, with some perceived to be Asian in appearance.”
The machete attack came a day before two men where attacked with an African gang armed with machetes in Carlton, and a day after two other 15-year-old boys were attacked with machetes in Pakenham.
Victoria Police are investigating potential links between the Carlton attack and the fatal drive-by shooting of Sudanese teenager Ater Good in Fitzroy on Saturday.
No arrests have been made over any of the attacks.
Header image: A group of teenagers seen walking along the street before the incident (Victoria Police).
