Bourke St Mall: Chaos as teens in stolen car chased through Melbourne shopping centre

The Melbourne CBD has been thrown into panic after a police pursuit ended in the middle of Bourke St Mall.

People were left ducking for cover as a fleet of police vehicles descended on the area chasing the alleged offenders at around 1.20pm on Monday.

The car being pursued was allegedly stolen by a group of teens armed with machetes who tore through the packed mall, scattering bystanders.

A “number of people” have been arrested, according to police, who said they “will provide further information when it comes to hand, but there have been no injuries during the incident and there is no threat to the community.”

“I’ve never seen so many police cars in my life,” a caller to Melbourne’s talkback station 3AW told Shane McInnes.

“The police cars are coming roaring down Elizabeth Street, down the wrong side of the road, police helicopters above Melbourne Central, and there’s coppers everywhere.

“There would be 40 to 50 police cars and cops everywhere running into Melbourne Central

Another caller said the car had been damaged but was still racing through the built-up area.

“It was a white BMW SUV with all the windows smashed in, and it was darting down Punt Rd. It was very scary,” the caller said.

“I could hear the chopper following it and it was very scary, dangerous driving.”

One witness said he was just finishing lunch when the alleged stolen vehicle pulled up in front of his location and he witnessed the group of youths run from the scene.

“It literally pulled up out the front of where JD Sports is and four youths have gotten out with machetes and run straight into Myer,” caller Martin said.

“Bourke St Mall is in lockdown. There was definitely four youths with machetes and that’s another day in Melbourne for you.”

Emergency services are still at scene and public transport has been delayed.