Police investigate vicious gang attacks filmed at Northland shopping centre
A GANG of teenagers is beating and attacking young girls at Northland shopping centre, with onlookers filming the incidents and posting them widely on social media. WATCH THE VICIOUS FOOTAGE
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A TEENAGE gang is terrorising shoppers at Northland, beating and attacking young girls in full view of the passing public.
Videos of the attacks have gone viral across social media, with footage filmed at Northland and obtained by the Leader showing a young girl throwing another girl to the ground by her hair, and viciously punching and kicking her in the head and back as a startled shopper walks past.
A second video shows a group of girls standing around in the toilets.
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One suddenly lashes out at another, viciously and repeatedly punching her in the face.
The victim is then dragged to the ground and kicked, before her attacker and others leave. Others stand around, watching and filming the attack.
It’s understood the videos have been shared among the gang, posted to public social media accounts and used as threats to the gang’s enemies.
They were posted to Instagram account fightingvideos101, which has since been removed by the site.
The devastated mother of a 16-year-old victim of the gang said videos of an attack were sent to her younger daughter, aged 14, as a threat.
The 16-year-old was then attacked in the toilets of Northland Hoyts on September 13 while out with family friends.
The mother, who asked to remain anonymous, said the “horrifying” videos left her daughter suffering panic attacks.
“She’s traumatised. I’m reliving it every minute of every day. It’s ingrained in my brain and I can see the terror on my daughter’s face,” she said.
Despite the repeat attacks the gang are not known to Northland security staff, and are not banned from the centre.
Preston senior sergeant Josh Langelaan said police were investigating the incident and had provided support to the 16-year-old victim.
He also said police proactively patrolled the shopping centre and other major shopping areas to prevent crime.
Northland centre manager Andrew Drivas said they were working with police and cooperating fully with the investigation.
In July Leader reported another brawl at the shopping centre where violent youths could be seen punching, shoving and throwing each other to the ground.
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The mother said the teenage gangs were an “epidemic” and the public deserved to know.
“People should be aware … People don’t have any idea what’s going on and they should be alert,” she said.
“I’m not going back there with my daughters, ever.”
Northland management would not confirm the number of assaults or if any individuals were banned from entering the store.
“The safety of our customers, retailers, teams and the wider community is always our priority,” Mr Drivas said.
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