Multiple arrests, charges after rival gangs faced off in a frenzied attack at Northland shopping centre

Police have made more arrests over the terrifying gang fight at Northland shopping centre, while retailers report a spike in machete sales on the eve of the sales ban.

• Premier to fast-track machete ban

A seventh person has been arrested over Sunday’s machete melee at Northland shopping centre.

Police arrested an 18-year-old from Thornhill Park on Tuesday night.

He has been charged with affray and weapons offences.

Multiple teenagers and young men were allegedly involved in the Northland machete attack.

On Tuesday morning, police arrested a 21-year-old Kew man and an 18-year-old Derrimut man.

The Kew man was hospitalised following Sunday’s incident, nursing head injuries he sustained during the brawl.

Police confirmed he was also out on bail at the time of the attack, making him the second person that has been arrested who was out on bail during Sunday’s incident.

Both men have been charged with affray and intentionally causing injury and have been bailed to face court at a later date.

The Kew man is due to front Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on July 15 while the Derrimut man will appear on July 16.

Further investigations have also revealed the number of offenders involved in the incident – originally believed to be eight – was actually seven people facing off from rival gangs.

It comes as retailers reported a spike in machete sales just hours after Jacinta Allan ordered all shops to strip the dangerous weapons from their shelves ahead of a new ban on the sale of large knives.

The Premier announced the sale of machetes will become illegal from midday Wednesday, in what she said is an effort to dry up the machete market ahead of an already-legislated ban from September.

But the opposition lashed the change as nothing more than a “media-driven scramble” that won’t make people feel safer because machetes will remain on the street for months.

Victoria Police on Monday said seven people from two rival gangs were allegedly involved in the frenzied attack at Northland shopping centre on Sunday, which played out in front of terrified shoppers and children.

On Monday afternoon, it was revealed the two boys arrested at the scene – aged 15 and 16 – were on bail at the time of the attack.

The boys, who police believe were the ringleaders, were charged with affray, intentionally causing injury, possessing and using a controlled weapon and committing an indictable offence while on bail.

One of the boys, who had visible injuries on his face, will remain in custody until a bail application on Friday, with his lawyer requesting a medical assessment in the meantime.

Police respond to the brawl at Northland on Sunday. Picture: Josie Hayden

The other teen, who was allegedly filmed wielding a machete during the brawl, did not apply for bail and was remanded to reappear in court next month.

Meanwhile, a 20-year-old Thornbury man, who was also on bail at the time, was arrested and charged before he was freed again. An 18-year-old Bundoora man was also bailed.

A fifth person allegedly involved in the ordeal remains in hospital.

Victoria Police deputy commissioner David Clayton said officers were fast closing in on the other three people who remained at-large.

But it’s understood that one of those people will only be treated as a witness because they are believed to have fled the scene as soon as the fight broke out.

“These people and the gangs they align themselves with are well known to police, especially our investigators from Operation Alliance,” Mr Clayton said.

The Allan government on Monday again resisted mounting calls to bring forward its total machete ban, which Victoria Police said it wants in place “as soon as possible”.

The nation first ban comes after legislation outlawing the sale and possession of machetes in Victoria was fast-tracked through parliament in March.

It followed the Herald Sun’s Suburbs Under Siege campaign which highlighted a series of horrifying examples of the state’s growing youth crime scourge.

Once in place from September 1, those caught with a machete, who do not have an exemption, will face jail terms or fines of more than $47,000.

A three-month amnesty will run from September 1 to November 30 to allow for the punishment-free disposal of prohibited weapons.

But on Monday, responding to the Northland attack, Ms Allan announced it would become illegal to sell the dangerous edged weapons from Wednesday in a bid to “choke the supply”.

“I hate these knives, and I will keep introducing as many laws as it takes to get them off our streets, out of our shops and out of our lives,” she said.

“Community safety comes first.”

Premier Jacinta Allan has announced it will become illegal to sell dangerous edged weapons. Picture: Brendan Beckett

But Opposition Leader Brad Battin accused Ms Allan of buckling to media pressure but said it wouldn’t guarantee community safety.

“Labor has only acted today because it had no choice. It’s a decision born of political panic, not public safety,” he said.

“Instead of working with parliament and the Opposition to bring forward the full ban properly, Labor has reached for a band aid solution using emergency consumer protection powers. It’s yet another example of politics first, community safety second.”

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said bringing forward the sales ban was appropriate.

Shopping Centre Council of Australia chief executive Angus Nardi said “any sensible proposal which seeks to remove dangerous weapons … is a welcome step.”

Both the Australian Retailers Association and the National Retail Association said the ban was an important response “but broader reforms are urgently needed”.

Earlier this year, dodgy businesses were busted selling knives to young criminals which resulted in police seizing a record number of weapons.

The Herald Sun revealed that officers confiscated 14,797 knives, swords, machetes and daggers last year, the most weapons uncovered in a single year over the past decade.

Police allege a 40-year-old Toorak man was behind one of the illegal stockpiles and was knowingly selling samurai swords, zombie knives and katana swords to youth offenders.

Originally published as Multiple arrests, charges after rival gangs faced off in a frenzied attack at Northland shopping centre