Machete-wielding teens cause havoc at Watergardens Shopping Centre

A brawl between young thugs clutching machetes and knives has sent shoppers into a panic in Melbourne’s west.

A group of teens were involved in a brawl at Watergardens Shopping Centre on Wednesday.

Shoppers have fled from a brawling group of teenagers brandishing machetes at a western suburbs shopping centre.

Dozens of police were called to the Watergardens Shopping Centre on the Melton Highway in Taylors Lakes on Wednesday following reports there were machetes being used inside.

Victoria Police say the group are understood to have been carrying machetes and knives before fighting each other.

“Police were called to a shopping complex on Melton Highway, Taylors Lakes about 4pm after reports a group of youths was seen in the complex, some reportedly holding machetes and knives,” a statement read.

It’s understood some of the teens involved in the brawl were carrying machetes and knives.

“A fight has then broken out in the food court area.

“Police were quickly on scene but the group had run off before police arrived. No injuries have been reported to police and they are currently patrolling the area.”

Witnesses also say there were at least two people with a machete running around near the food court area.

One shopper said one of the group was wearing a balaclava.

“We had just walked in near the food court and we just saw a group of school-aged boys running out of the centre as fast as they could, then a guy in a hoodie holding it up to his face so we decided to leave quick smart,” another witness said online.

It has been at the centre of several reported knife incidents in recent months.

A Delahey man was charged after he allegedly assaulted and threatened two people with a knife at the shopping centre in May.

Hours later, another boy, 15, was charged after allegedly carrying a machete at Watergardens later that night.

A teenage boy was allegedly attacked by a machete-wielding gang at the same joint last year.

There have been about a dozen reported machete attacks across major Melbourne shopping centres since March this year.

Watergardens Shopping Centre has been contacted for comment.