Teen stabbed, diners sent fleeing in Melbourne shopping centre machete attack

Diners at an Oakleigh shopping precinct ran for their lives when a gang of masked youths stormed a cafe before an 18-year-old man was stabbed with a machete.

CCTV footage taken inside Eaton Mall shows a group of young males entering the dining area outside the Vanilla Lounge shortly after 7.30pm on Friday.

The gang, comprising between eight and 10 people wearing balaclavas, approached a seating area, forcing many diners to flee.

At least two members of the group wielded machetes during what police described as a “physical altercation” that resulted in the stabbing of the 18-year-old Malvern East man.

The teenager was taken to the Alfred hospital with upper body injuries. He was in a serious but stable condition on Saturday morning.

A 16-year-old boy was also set upon in the attack, but sustained no physical injuries.

The group involved fled the scene on foot and remain at large, with no arrests or charges laid.

Videos shared on social media show a man cowering on the floor being struck by a male wielding a blade. The victim was later seen with a slash to his face.

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Mick Hermans said vision from the attack was “highly confronting”, and would likely form a key part of the investigation.

While police believe the victim was directly targeted by his attackers, Hermans could not confirm whether the crime was gang-related.

“The parties were known to each other, we’re treating it as a targeted attack, and the matter is currently under investigation,” he said.

“[The attack was] horrific, but Victoria Police have worked incredibly hard with government support to address knife crime. Last year we seized 17,000 edged weapons, and so far this year, we’ve received or seized 3000 edge weapons.”

Officers would be conducting patrols in the Oakleigh area to provide “reassurance” to the community, Hermans said.

Police Minister Anthony Carbines said his thoughts were with the victims and the broader Oakleigh community after the “deeply distressing” attack on Friday night.

Police have urged anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has dashcam or CCTV footage, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

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