Melbourne machete attack arrests: Four teens in custody after Port Melbourne Bay St ambush involving stolen Haval
The major update comes after horrifying footage captured the moment a group of allegedly machete-wielding teens leapt from a moving vehicle, attacking two men in broad daylight.
Four teenagers have been arrested after an alleged brawl between two males in broad daylight on an inner-city street in Melbourne.
Horrifying footage captured the moment the group of masked, machete-wielding youths leap from a moving car and attack two men in broad daylight.
Police allege the car, a white Haval, was stolen from a gym in Clyde North on April 18.
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The white car was tracked by the Air Wing, and were spotted travelling down the Westgate Freeway about 12.20am Wednesday.
The car stopped at a carpark on Shepparson Ave in Carnegie, when one of the occupants got out of the car and was arrested by police.
The critical incidents response team (CIRT) tried to intercept the car but it fled the scene, police said.
Three CIRT vehicles were used to box in the allegedly stolen car, arresting the remaining three occupants inside.
“A search of the vehicle uncovered several hatchets, a sledgehammer and a steel pole,” a police statement read.
Four teenagers – a 14-year-old boy, two 16-year-old boys, and a 16-year-old girl – were all arrested.
They remain in custody and are being interviewed by detectives.
No charges have been laid.
In the footage obtained by 9News, about six youths can be seen jumping out of the allegedly stolen car and chasing down two men on Bay St and Lalor St in Port Melbourne.
Some can be seen armed with metal poles and at least one can be seen carrying a machete.
One of the alleged victims was caught as he tried to run for his life.
He can be heard screaming “help, help help” as three of the offenders beat and kick him.
A neighbour told Nine it was “absolute ruckus” and called for a heavier police presence in the area.
“There was yelling, there was screaming. A metal pole was used in the ambush and punches are thrown as the victim tries to defend himself on the pavement, they were fully beating him on the ground,” a witness said.
“My daughter was traumatised.
“I left South Africa to not go through the violence and the crime that I witnessed at her age.
“I moved to the UK, I witnessed the same thing, and now it’s right outside my front door in Australia.”
Another witness said the offenders were fully beating the victim on the ground.
“It’s scary to know that kids have the gall and guts to do this,” she said.
A tradie reportedly tried to stop the youths by throwing bricks and a sledgehammer which smashed the sunroof of a stolen car, but the alleged offenders grabbed the weapon.
A shop owner said one of the youths went into his store and asked to hide but he told him to get out.
“Youth gangs at their best, shocking,” he said.
A police spokesman said when they arrived at the scene the vehicle and those involved in the brawl had fled the scene.
“At this stage no victims have come forward to report the incident to police,” a spokesman said.
“The ongoing investigation has established the Haval was stolen from a gym in Clyde North on Saturday. It remains outstanding.”
Originally published as Four teens arrested after alleged armed attack on men in broad daylight in Melbourne
