A violent gang brawl erupted at a notoriously violent Melbourne mall on Anzac Day, terrorising families and leaving a young man hospitalised.
The fight between six teenagers, some African and two armed with machetes, allegedly broke out at Highpoint Shopping Centre in Maribyrnong in the city’s west at about 6pm on Thursday, causing hundreds of terrified shoppers to run for cover.
The alleged incident is the second stabbing attack in less than a week at Highpoint, which is so violent it is nicknamed “Knifepoint” by locals, and comes just 10 days after a similar machete brawl at Woodgrove shopping centre in Melton.
CCTV from the shopping centre shows parents shielding their children and shoppers hiding inside shops after the alleged fight erupted near Hoyts cinemas and spilled into the nearby food court.
Victoria Police said an 18-year-old St Albans man was taken to hospital with a suspected stab wound to the arm, while an 18-year-old Sunshine North man, a 17-year-old Braybrook boy and an 18-year-old Deer Park man were arrested at the scene. Two other males are still on the run.
The 17-year-old was granted bail after being charged with intentionally cause injury, affray, assault with a weapon, and possess a control weapon, and will appear at a children’s court at a later date.
The Sunshine North man was released, and the Deer Park man was released with intent to summons.
In Sunday’s alleged stabbing at Highpoint a man, 19, was left in a serious condition after a fight inside a restaurant, and another 19-year-old was arrested on Tuesday and charged with intentionally causing serious injury, affray and weapons offences.
On April 16 two other teenagers were charged over an alleged brawl in Melton where African gangs allegedly attacked each other with axes and a machete, also inside a food court.
