Teen fights for life after Broadmeadows supermarket stabbing
Police say a horror attack involving 15 youths at a Broadmeadows supermarket, in which a boy was stabbed and left fighting for life, was not gang-related.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A shopping centre stabbing that left a teenager with critical injuries was not gang related, police say.
Up to 15 youths were involved in a wild brawl at a Woolworths supermarket at Broadmeadows Shopping Centre about 6.20pm on Thursday.
A 16-year-old boy was stabbed in the stomach in what police described as a “life-threatening” attack.
Graphic footage shows the boy standing in a pool of blood in the bakery section of store.
Wearing a blood stained T-shirt, he could be seen clutching his wounded stomach before being laid on the ground by shoppers who provided emergency first aid.
Six teenagers aged 13 – 16 were arrested at the scene and issued a caution notice. No charges have been laid at this stage.
The shocking attack has caused significant public alarm in the area.
Superintendent Peter Lardner described the stabbing as “confronting” but said it was not random or gang-related.
“The youths were known to each other — this wasn’t a random attack so members of public can take comfort in that fact,” he said.
“VicPol doesn’t step away from youth gangs in Melbourne but this was not a gang related matter.
“This was a group of youths that hang around with each other without systemic hierarchy or an engaged system of how they do business.”
Superintendent Lardner said the injured teen remained in hospital, where his condition had improved overnight.
He added the boy may not have survived if it weren’t for the emergency first aid provided by shoppers.
“Members of the public who didn’t know the youth at all went to his aid and provided high level care,” Superintendent Lardner said.
“This may well have saved his life.”
Locals took to Facebook to learn more about what happened at the Broadmeadows supermarket.
One user commented that “disgusting” footage of the brawl was “going around”.
Another commented that her son showed her the footage on Snapchat.
The Herald Sun understands the brawl broke out in Woolworths, with one Facebook user specifying the “bakery section”.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the investigation remains ongoing to identify the other youths involved.
Any witnesses or anyone with video footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at crimestoppersvic.com.au
$550k worth of Hermes handbags stolen from Glen Waverley store
Police are hunting down three robbers who stole more than 20 designer handbags worth $550,000 from a shopping centre in Melbourne’s southeast.
Police seizing 40 knives, swords, daggers a day
More than 10,000 knives, daggers and swords have been seized in Victoria this year as police crack down on shops selling the weapons to youth gang members.