‘What the f**k’: Four teens arrested after shocking alleged machete assault

Four teens have been arrested after shocking video footage emerged showing them allegedly threatening and assaulting a victim with a large machete.

Four West Melbourne teens have been arrested after shocking video footage emerged showing them threatening and assaulting a victim with a large machete knife in a McDonald’s restaurant.

The incident occurred at around 4pm on Monday afternoon at Dohertys Road in Truganina. In a statement, Victoria Police said that even though up to five people were suspected to be involved in the assault, only four had been arrested and only two were charged.

“One of the boys has been charged with aggravated burglary, theft of motor vehicle, false imprisonment, produce child abuse material, assault with a weapon and possessing a controlled weapon.

Footage showed a victim having the machete pressed to his neck. Picture: Wyndham TV

“He was bailed to appear at a children’s court at a later date.

“A second boy is expected to be charged on summons.

“During the incident a machete is alleged to have been produced.

“The two victims, both 15-year-olds from the Wyndham area, were not injured.

“A further two boys aged 15 years old and from the Wyndham area were arrested today. They were issued cautions.”

Video footage of the incident from Wyndham TV captures a group of teenagers inside the fast food establishment rest room. One teen, wearing a yellow top, is seen holding a machete before passing it to another boy.

The second boy is seen forcing the alleged victim to kneel, pressing the machete against his neck, and tapping him on the chest with the weapon while issuing threats.

Footage showed a physical alteration between the teens. Picture: Wyndham TV

In subsequent footage, the teens are seen engaging in physical altercations, with one boy being punched to the ground. He later stands up and says he has “no beef”.

It comes as a wave of knife crime prompted the Victorian government to this week rush through a statewide ban on sale of machetes.

Premier Jacinta Allan speaks at a press conference on Monday. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Earlier this week, Premier Jacinta Allan announced the sale of machetes would be banned, following advice from police.

The nation-first machete sale ban comes after legislation outlawing the sale and possession of machetes in Victoria was fast-tracked through parliament in March.

“In Victoria, community safety comes first. We must never let places we meet become places we fear,” Ms Allan said.

“I hate these knives, and I will keep introducing as many laws as it takes to get them off our streets, out of our shops and out of our lives.”

One such incident was the Northland shopping centre assault on Sunday, which saw terrified shoppers forced to run for their lives and families barricading themselves in stores as machete-wielding youngsters terrorised the Preston shopping centre.

A man wielding a Machete at Northland Shopping centre in Victoria has been arrested and the centre was placed into lockdown. Picture: Seven News

In an update on Monday afternoon, Victoria Police said some of the eight alleged offenders were known to police and believed to have been on bail at the time of the daylight attack.

Victoria Police deputy commissioner David Clayton said the eight people allegedly involved were spread across two rival gangs.

As of Monday afternoon, police had arrested four people.