Two teenagers have been charged after a violent brawl in a shopping centre in Melbourne’s north, which left one person injured and plunged the entire shopping centre into lockdown.
Northland Shopping Centre was sent into lockdown at about 2.30pm Sunday, after reports of up to 10 people fighting, some armed with knives and machetes.
A 20-year-old man was seriously injured in the incident and taken to hospital, where he remains in a stable condition.
“Two other males, one with injuries, have since self-presented to hospital,” a Victoria Police statement read.
A 16-year-old Darebin boy and a 15-year-old Melton boy were arrested at the scene.
They have both since been charged with affray, intentionally cause injury, possess controlled weapon and use controlled weapon.
The two teenagers have been remanded to appear at a children’s court at a later date.
The incident sparked chaos at the shopping centre, with customers hiding inside shops while police stormed the centre.
While investigations are ongoing, police believe the fight was targeted and those involved were known to each other.
Victoria Police Superintendent Kelly Lawson told the Herald Sun the brawl was “not a random attack” and was possibly intended as “an act of retaliation”.
“(This was) a fight between two rival gangs occurred in the food court,” she said.
“It was a planned event, they had prearranged to meet here.
“It’s happened in a busy shopping centre, so there clearly was a risk to the public, there’s always a risk to the public.”
Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the “targeted” incident, labelling it as “appalling”.
“In Victoria, community safety comes first,” she said in a statement.
What we have seen at Northland Shopping Centre this afternoon is appalling and I condemn it.
“I want to thank Victoria Police, our first responders and the shop owners, staff and the public who were all incredibly brave responding to this incident.
“Victoria Police has (alleged) this was a targeted attack and have taken two people into custody.”
