Melbourne youth gangs brandish machetes as tensions simmer between rival groups

Shocking images have revealed teens brandishing weapons as tensions heat up between rival Melbourne youth gangs.

Tensions are brewing between rival Melbourne youth gangs, with shocking images showing teens brandishing weapons and making deadly threats.

Police sources have told the Herald Sun gang members, some as young as 13, had been “in and out of court” in recent months for assault including violent brawls, while others had been nabbed for stealing items from major shopping centres.

The Herald Sun has also uncovered dozens of images of youth gang members from Melbourne’s southeast and West brandishing weapons including machetes.

Disturbing images have also emerged in the past week showing gang members making threats to rival gang members on social media.

One southeast gang member wrote: “Run up you f---ing pussy … come fight you gronk.”

It comes after a string of violent incidents in Melbourne’s CBD last week believed to be gang related, which left one man dead and several injured.

One of the incidents include an alleged aggravated carjacking in Dandenong North last week, with three teens charged.

Dozens of images of youth gang members have emerged. Picture: Supplied

Homicide Squad detectives also arrested two men on Friday over an alleged fatal stabbing of a 20-year-old man in Melbourne’s CBD last week.

“Tensions have escalated in recent months between rival gangs from Hallam, Dandenong, Cranbourne and Endeavour Hills,” one police source said.

“The youths are taking part in violent fights and threatening each other on social media. Some of them are in Year 7 aged 13 and we’re seeing a lot of them come from broken families.

“They have been in and out of court for serious offences including assault.”

Another police source said youth gang members had been causing havoc at local shopping centres including Chadstone, The Glen and Dandenong Plaza.

“They are running into sports shops and stealing items and they are meeting at the shopping centres to fight with each other,” the source said.

“I think tensions have become worse between gangs in the past month because there are people within these gangs trying to show their power and authority.

“Young people are also becoming targets when they leave gangs, that’s the real danger. I’m afraid that someone could be severely injured in an attack or even worse such as losing their life.”

Police say some gang members are as young as 13. Picture: Supplied

Melbourne youth gangs with weapons on social media. Picture: Supplied

Glen Waverley Traders Association president Christo Christophidis said traders had complained in the Monash area about the presence of youth gangs at train stations and carparks.

“Some traders are too scared to walk to their cars by themselves at night because the gangs have been hanging out and doing burnouts late at night in some multi-level carparks,” he said.

“They have also been hanging out in large groups at Glen Waverley train station, it is very concerning.”

A youth worker from Melbourne’s southeast, said it was “very unusual” to see this type of heightened animosity between youth gangs.

“There is a lot of animosity between these gangs, they are up against each other. The whole community needs to step up and do more to help these youth with intervention support,” he said.

“I’m really worried that we’ll see more casualties if we don’t try and connect to these young people and help them.”

Youth outreach worker Les Twentyman said there was a lack of intervention support services across Victoria.

“There’s not enough intervention services. It costs $500,000 to lock a kid up for 12 months. I can employ at least four youth workers with that to work with highly at risk kids,” he said.

“Youth gang tensions are worsening and they are violent and using weapons.

“These kids are having their blues in the neighbourhoods and coming in to the CBD to sort it all out, it’s very concerning.”

Police say there has been a surge in arrests of youth gang members.

A Victoria Police spokesman said police are relentlessly pursuing, disrupting, and dismantling the state’s worst youth gangs as part of Operation Alliance.

In the twelve months to the end of August 2022, Victoria Police arrested 452 known youth gang members a combined 1334 times.

Those arrested were hit with 3201 criminal charges.

“The sheer volume of arrests and charges laid is firm evidence of Victoria Police’s unflinching resolve to take these people off our streets, put them before the courts, and keep the community safe,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman said police had a “greater line of sight” than ever before on those who associate themselves as part of a youth gang.

Tensions are said to be rising between rival youth gangs. Picture: Supplied

“We know the identities, associates, and offending habits of these people, which gives us the best chance to prevent crime from occurring. In addition to this, we are consistently monitoring any tensions between youth gangs.”

The spokesman said police knew the exact days these people were set to be released from prison.

“When they return home, we will be frequently knocking on their door to ensure they are complying with bail requirements and living a life free from crime.

“If they aren’t, it’s our job to track them down, arrest them, and put them back before a magistrate.”

The spokesman said Operation Alliance was also heavily focused on breaking the cycle of reoffending.

“Police engage with young offenders to try and move them away from a life of crime, through reinforcing connections to family, education, employment, and community activities such as sport.”