Colin
A violent shopping centre clash with teens wielding blades has evoked panic with the Bondi Junction Westfield tragedy still fresh in the nations’ mind.
Chaos erupted in a major shopping centre as terrified patrons, including mothers and children, fled in panic when a group of individuals armed with machetes engaged in a violent brawl.
The Woodgrove Shopping Centre in the western Melbourne suburb of Melton became the scene of panic at 5pm on Monday, with witnesses recounting seeing the assailants, believed to be teenagers, hurling chairs and brandishing knives and machetes.
Two teenage boys have been arrested and charged over the fracas.
A 15-year-old Weir Views boy suffered head injuries and was taken to hospital where he remains.
Wild mall brawl evokes frantic panic
“This morning, investigators arrested two boys, aged 15-years-old from Melton South and 16-years-old from Harkness, and both have now been interviewed,” police said on Tuesday afternoon.
“The 16-year-old has been charged with affray, possess prohibited weapon and being armed with criminal intent and will be directly presented to a children’s court this afternoon.
“The 15-year-old will be charged with affray, possess controlled weapon and being armed with criminal intent and will then be directly presented to a children’s court.
“The boy who remains in hospital will be interviewed about the incident upon release from hospital.”
Horrific footage captured two individuals, one seemingly wielding an axe, attacking another armed with what appears to be a machete near the KFC outlet.
One assailant can be seen stumbling after being doused with a bucket of water before the axe appears to hit him.
Witnesses described the assailants, believed to be teenagers, hurling chairs and brandishing knives and machetes. Picture: Supplied
Amid the chaos, another person intervened, hurling a chair at the attacker with the axe.
Witnesses expressed shock and fear, as per reporting by The Herald Sun, with one food court worker revealing that teens left the scene “covered in blood.”
“They were throwing chairs and signs, we saw one guy (leave the centre) and his head was covered in blood. We had no idea what to do, we didn’t know whether to run or not,” the witness said.
There has since been public speculation that there were likely two opposing youth gangs involved in a violent clash.
Witnesses expressed shock and fear, with some seeing teens covered in blood and describing the scene as terrifying. Picture: Supplied
Another witness described the scene as “terrifying” and expressed ongoing concerns for the safety of their family.
One woman, who fled the scene with her child, expressed disgust at the recklessness of the perpetrators, particularly in the aftermath of the Bondi Junction incident.
“Woodgrove needs a police presence for all hours that it’s open, and these little turds need harsher punishments,” she said.
A group of terrified mothers reportedly sought refuge in a baby changing room, with one recounting how her child was left traumatised by the sight of a machete.
Center manager Kylie Robertson assured patrons of increased security measures, telling the Herald Sun: “Woodgrove Shopping Centre’s security personnel rapidly responded to a security incident yesterday with support from Victoria Police.”
