Members of ‘BDG’ gang involved in alleged Fed Square robberies

Some of the youth allegedly behind a string of robberies and a bashing near Federation Square on Tuesday are part of a gang that boast about their crimes online.

Police detain one of the youths involved in Tuesday night's crime spree. Picture; Supplied

A crew of thugs who caused mayhem in Melbourne’s CBD on Tuesday night are allegedly a notorious youth gang from Melbourne’s south east.

The group were allegedly involved in a string of robberies in the vicinity of Federation Square about 8pm and a violent bashing at Birrarung Marr a short time later.

Shocking footage obtained by the Herald Sun shows more than 12 young people involved in the brutal bashing along the Yarra River in broad daylight.

A large group of youths were involved in a bashing at Birrarung Marr on Tuesday. Picture: Supplied

Police detain one of the youths involved in Tuesday night's crime spree. Picture; Supplied

The video shows several punches and kicks landing on one or more of the youths as the group rush to join in and film the riverside stoush.

Police say the gang then boarded a tram which was quickly stopped by officers at the intersection of Exhibition and Flinders streets.

Police spoke to about 15 children and arrested three teenagers.

The Herald Sun can reveal some of the crew involved in the violent crime spree are allegedly entrenched in a southeastern crime gang known as “BDG” or “32”.

The youths, who proudly boasted their overnight antics to social media followers the next morning, often share images of each other holding huge machetes and knives as a warning to other rival gangs.

Three youths associated with the "BDG" crew. Picture: Supplied

Youths film themselves allegedly driving at speeds of almost 200km/h. Picture: Supplied

The young thugs share vision of themselves driving luxury vehicles at high speeds on city freeways late at night.

It’s understood the gang are extremely active in the theft of luxury cars in affluent south eastern suburbs.

Many of the “BDG” gang also share photos of their children’s court charge sheets, indicating they have been granted bail after committing an offence.

It comes as new laws were introduced in parliament on Wednesday which will give police powers to wipe firearms from criminals and stop the sale of machetes to youth gang members.

Police Minister Anthony Carbines on Wednesday said the reforms would force criminals out of the shadows.

“You can’t hide from Victoria Police,” he warned.

“These changes that the government’s introducing will make it easier for police to track down and serve firearm prohibition orders.

“At any time they can be stopped by Victoria Police, anywhere, anytime, in their vehicle, in the street … they can search you at any time.”

Mr Carbines said the government would also clear up the “ambiguity” around selling machetes to Victorians under the age of 18.

“There’s been consideration of those matters but you could imagine across the state and agriculture farms, the likely significant use of controlled weapons in the community for legitimate purposes,” he said.

But opposition police spokesperson Brad Battin said the reforms did not go far enough.

“We have said openly machetes should be a prohibited weapon,” he said.

“There is no reason any person should be walking along the Yarra River in Melbourne with a machete.

“There is no reason they should be walking through our communities in the growth corridors with a machete.”