Five arrests over brutal stabbing of budding basketball player Alier Riak

Seven men have been arrested over the horror stabbing of budding basketball player Alier Riak in Docklands last Sunday. The murder investigation remains ongoing.

Seven men have been arrested over the brutal stabbing of budding basketball player Alier Riak in Docklands last Sunday.

Investigators from the homicide squad, gang crime squad and armed crime squad made the arrests over the past 24 hours.

Two of the men were taken into custody after raids on properties in Derrimut and Wollert, suburbs north and west of Melbourne’s CBD, on Friday morning.

A 19-year-old Derrimut man and a 21-year-old Wollert man were interviewed by police.

Another man, aged 21 from Tarneit, was also arrested in Docklands on Friday night and interviewed by police.

The Tarneit and Derrimut men were charged with murder, while the Wollert man was charged with affray and violent disorder.

All three faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday night and remanded in custody.

Footage of the arrest of the 19-year-old Derrimut man.

A further two arrests were made on Saturday morning after raids on properties in Taylors Hill and Epping in Melbourne’s north.

A 22-year-old Taylors Hill man and a 20-year-old Epping man will now be interviewed by police.

Another two men were charged on Saturday evening.

A 22-year-old Taylors Hill man was charged with violent disorder, affray and committing an indictable offence while on bail.

He was remanded and will appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

A 20-year-old Epping man was also charged with violent disorder and affray and was bailed and will also appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

The arrests relate to an attack on Mr Riak, a 23-year-old from Western Australia, who was set upon in Docklands in the early hours of Sunday, March 13 in Docklands.

His 26-year-old brother Kuol Riak was also seriously injured.

Police and paramedics were called to Bourke St, near Harbour Esplanade, following reports of a brawl between a number of young men about 3.20am.

The footage shows the arrest of the 19-year-old Derrimut man.

The brothers were both taken to hospital, Alier Riak succumbing to his injuries a short time later.

The murder investigation remains ongoing and police have again appealed for witnesses to contact police.

Homicide investigators are also still investigating the stabbing murder of Declan Cutler, who was chased down by a group of men in a car in Reservoir in Melbourne’s inner-north at 2am on Sunday.

Alier Riak was a budding basketball player.

The 16-year-old, who was working as a concreter, was the eldest of five children.

Crime Command Assistant Commissioner Bob Hill said investigators were working tirelessly to solve the cases.

“I know the events of last weekend were incredibly distressing for many in our community where we experienced the senseless loss of life of two young men and others being seriously injured,’’ Mr Hill said.

“Since Sunday morning, Victoria Police committed significant resources in our investigative effort to identify, arrest and ultimately hold those responsible to account for their actions.

“These arrests were the result of an incredible amount of work by Crime Command units including the homicide squad, gang crime squad and armed crime squad, while well supported by local police from the north west metro region.

“It’s also a strong and demonstrable statement that for those choosing to engage in this type of violent and senseless crime, police will be relentless in their pursuit of you.

“The victims of this incident were innocent parties who were good people – good students, good athletes and from a good family.

“Our thoughts are very much with the Riak family at this time, who are no doubt suffering an immeasurable amount of grief. We will continue to ensure all the relevant support services are made available to them.

“The investigation into this matter will continue until police are satisfied that all those involved are held to account for their actions.’’