Policeman hit with a spanner while chasing alleged offenders after a brawl at Chadstone shopping centre

Another brawl has broken out at a Melbourne shopping centre, with a police officer left bleeding from the head after getting struck by one of the alleged offenders.

The brawl happened at Chadstone shopping centre on Wednesday afternoon. Picture: Josie Hayden

A police officer was struck in the head with a spanner during a violent altercation at a Melbourne shopping centre on Wednesday.

A number of men are understood to have been brawling with at least one weapon at Chadstone Shopping Centre about 1.30pm.

Police say a baton was used by at least one of the alleged offenders before they fled the outside area of huge shopping complex.

One officer was reportedly struck on the head with a spanner as he attempted to chase the crew through a nearby park.

It’s alleged one of the brawlers used a baton during the altercation at Chadstone shopping centre. Picture Rebecca Michael

Police say the group of offenders were known to each other.

Two of those were taken into custody at the scene and were on Wednesday afternoon being interviewed.

Witness Emily said there were “police everywhere” around Chadstone.

“We were just having some lunch with some friends and we heard some sirens outside so we went to check out what was happening, as you do,” she said.

“There was lots of police everywhere, we saw one policeman running through the park.

“One policeman was sitting on a bench, he had a gash to his head. He’d been hit with a spanner from one of the offenders.

“They had one (offender in custody) and they were chasing the other offender around the street.”

The witness said the shopping centre assault left her shaken.

“It’s always a bit frightening when things happen that close to home,” she said.

“You sort of feel pretty safe in Malvern East but I guess you’re not really safe anywhere these days.”

The police investigation remains ongoing.

Originally published as Policeman hit with a spanner while chasing alleged offenders after a brawl at Chadstone shopping centre