Terrifying scenes unfolded at a Melbourne shopping centre when a group of African teens ran riot with machetes and allegedly attacked an innocent tobacconist customer.
Up to six teenagers were seen rampaging through Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre at about 3.45pm on Wednesday as shoppers screamed “knife, knife” and a man who tried to help security guards stop a theft from the TSG tobacco store was allegedly struck with a glass bottle.
“One (of the teens) had a machete. There was blood everywhere,” a witness told the Herald Sun, and said members of the public helped perform citizens arrests when security guards said they were unable to detain the suspects.
Victoria Police said three girls were arrested at the scene and are being interviewed over the incident.
“Police have arrested three people following an incident in Endeavour Hills,” they said in statement.
“It is believed there was a theft from a business inside the Heatherton Road shopping centre. Security staff tried to stop a female when a several people known to her attempted to intervene. A scuffle occurred.”
“A male passerby who tried to intervene was struck with a glass bottle and is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.”
A photo shared on social media shows an African girl in handcuffs on the ground, and other photos show a man being given first aid for a head injury.
Earlier this month African man Giew Ter Tuol, 21, was allegedly stabbed to death in the same suburb. A 20-year-old man known to Tuol has been charged his murder.
Header image: An African girl is arrested at Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre (Supplied).
