Brawl involving 200 youths erupts at Highpoint Shopping Centre in Melbourne

GANG violence erupted at a western suburbs shopping centre, with one youth stabbed repeatedly in the chest.

GANG violence erupted at a western suburbs shopping centre, with one youth stabbed repeatedly in the chest.

 The brawl, involving up to 200 teenagers, was only dispersed when police arrived at Aquatic Drive at Highpoint Shopping Centre in Maribyrnong shortly after 4pm yesterday.

One boy, 15, was stabbed three times and taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital. 

Police were attempting to interview him last night.

The majority of those involved were Pacific Islander and Asian youths, but the cause of the affray is still unknown. 

Police found knives, sticks and umbrellas at the scene where youths aged between 13 and 15 ran from the scene.

Between 40 and 50 people were spoken to by police, who are now searching for CCTV footage.

Acting Sergeant Jacob Bugeja, of Footscray police branch, said fights in the carpark were common. 

"I'd say it's got something to do with an ongoing school battle,'' he said.

"The fact they were all a similar age is an indication of that.''

Sgt Bugeja said they were called to the area every six weeks, but he had not seen as many youths congregating before. 

The injured teen is in a stable condition.

A similar-sized brawl at Highpoint in October 2007 involved African youths from the Flemington high-rise flats.

On that occasion there were in fact two brawls, one inside a cinema and the other in the shopping centre, which had to be shut down.
 
Police arrested and charged several youths.