Teen stabbed as 300 revellers flock to Point Lonsdale sand dunes party
Teenagers were assaulted and another was stabbed when a gang of masked youths invaded a Bellarine Peninsula sand dunes party over the weekend. Tensions ran high after Melbourne teens were involved with local youth in a “turf war” standoff.
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Teenagers were assaulted and another was stabbed when a gang of unknown youths invaded a Bellarine Peninsula sand dunes party over the weekend.
Police were forced to move on more than 300 revellers who flocked to the unregulated “White Night” party at Point Lonsdale on Saturday after it was widely shared on social media.
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The Geelong Advertiser has been told a “turf war” between Point Lonsdale teens and their peers from Portsea and Sorrento created tension — with the two groups of teens standing off against one another.
But witnesses said the party’s atmosphere changed again when unknown teens wearing black face masks arrived.
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Police confirmed two 16-year-old boys were walking in the dunes, off Ocean and Fellows Rds, when they were approached by a group just after midnight.
The boys — from Newtown and Jan Juc — were robbed and assaulted. Another 17-year-old Gisborne boy was stabbed.
All three were treated by paramedics while the Newtown boy and Gisborne teen were rushed to hospital in stable conditions.
Riot police, the air wing and other officers were quickly called in quickly to assist.
Police last night could not confirm if they had made any arrests instead confirming the incident was still subject of an “active investigation” by CIU detectives.
It is believed the youths, some from as far away as Melbourne, attended the party after receiving the invites through Facebook.
Senior Sergeant Adrian Bickley said police were very disappointed teens had been injured at the party.
Before the assaults, police largely had the crowd under control by confiscating alcohol and handing out tickets for underage drinking.
“The inherent danger with advertising the event of social media … is that you have no control over who is going to attend,” Sen-Sgt Bickley said.
The experienced police officer said it was up to parents to ensure their children were making safe decisions and understood the risks unregulated parties.
“For many years now there have been dunes parties at Point Lonsdale,” Sen-Sgt Bickley said,
“What we have seen now is that where these parties were once groups of 20 friends now, through social media, they are much larger.”
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Police have vowed to continue to ramp up patrols in the area to prevent violence while other officers are expected to work with stakeholders to try and clamp down on the issue.
Point Lonsdale Surf life Saving Club president Matthew Ponsford said the club had warned its members against attending the event.
He said the club “100 per cent” supported Victoria Police’s stance and believed while the party had one be a rite-of-passage it had now spiralled out of control.
By late Sunday night, police were still receiving reports of offences committed within the vicinity of the party and called on any victims to call police.