Brahma Lodge teen in critical condition, two men injured in machete fight at Altitude Apartments off Morphett St in Adelaide’s CBD

Two men have been charged after a wild brawl at a city hotel that left a teen among those injured and which the Police Commissioner said involved a machete and up to seven people.

Two men have been arrested and charged after a teenage boy was seriously injured in a machete attack in a CBD apartment on Monday morning.

Emergency services were called to the Altitude Apartments, on Balfours Way near Morphett, Franklin and Waymouth streets, in Adelaide’s CBD just before 5am after reports of a violent brawl.

A 16-year-old boy, from Brahma Lodge, suffered stab wounds to his back, thighs and hands during an argument between groups at the student accommodation.

He was rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he is in a serious but stable condition.

A 31-year-old man, from Murray Bridge, suffered a laceration to his head and stab wounds to his abdomen.

A 27-year-old man, from Craigmore, who suffered a laceration across his chest, was charged with affray and four counts of assault.

Both men were also taken to the RAH for treatment.

A 25-year-old man from Fulham Gardens was charged with affray and assault.

Both the 27-year-old and 25-year-old men were refused bail and will appear in court on Tuesday.

There is a heavy police presence at the scene. Picture: Emma Brasier

An evidence marker, empty wine bottle and what appears to be blood on the wall at the scene. Picture: Emma Brasier

Up to seven people were involved in the fracas. Picture: Emma Brasier

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens confirmed a machete was used in the fight, which involved up to seven people.

He said the police would use new laws to crack down on the use of weapons, but stopped short of calling for a similar ban on machetes which was recently implemented in Victoria.

“There is strong legislation being provided to police to enable us to take action and to disrupt or discourage people from carrying weapons,” Mr Stevens said.

“It’s almost impossible to stop people from acquiring the weapon so our focus is on preventing people from carrying those weapons.”

He said Monday morning’s machete attack was “a clear indicator that there is a need” for police power to stamp out attacks.

The new legislation, which is set to be introduced in coming weeks, will reclassify machetes as prohibited weapons.

Under the beefed-up laws, anyone who manufactures, sells, supplies or uses a machete could face a $20,000 fine or two years in jail.

The state’s top cop will also be given the power to declare certain places, such as public transport and shopping centres, for the purposes of metal detector searches.

While the 16-year-old boy injured in the incident remains in a critical but stable condition, police do not yet know what caused the altercation.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens on the introduction of testing drivers for cocaine, along with the usual testing regime. 22 July 2024. Picture: Dean Martin

“We don’t have clarity on exactly what’s transpired in the unit but detectives are investigating,” Mr Stevens said.

“No members of the public were impacted by the incident.”

Crime scene investigators and detectives are on the scene, with police tape closing off the area.

A large blood stain is visible on the wall of the hotel lobby, with other officers collecting several bags of evidence.
Neighbour Dylan Cotton heard screaming coming from the apartment complex in the early hours of the morning.

“I could just see all these cops’ cars coming and sirens … it was crazy, it was really loud,” Mr Cotton said.

“They were just screaming and then about five or ten minutes the cops were here.

“You expect a 16-year-old to be getting ready for school today. He shouldn’t be out this late at night.

“Someone is fighting for life now and it’s going to scar them for life.”

Another neighbour said there was droplets of blood throughout the hotel’s lift.

Police say investigations are continuing, but they believe the people involved are all known to each other and it is not a random incident.