By Caroline Schelle and Eliza Sum
Warning: Graphic content
A man has been charged after allegedly stabbing five people in a violent spree across inner Melbourne on the weekend.
The 31-year-old Melton man was arrested near South Yarra train station after the stabbings, which began on Saturday night and ended in the early hours of Sunday morning.
He has been charged with 15 offences, including intentionally causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence, recklessly causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence, intentionally and recklessly causing injury and possessing a controlled weapon.
One of the stabbing victims was attacked from behind while walking along a busy CBD street.
Footage shows the 24-year-old man walking along King Street when a man in a bright-green hoodie comes up from behind and pulls out an object, thrusting it at the victim’s leg.
He cries out in pain and a group of passersby stops and help the bleeding man. One takes the shirt off his back and gives it to the victim.
Workers at Yankee’s Burger Bar on King Street also assisted, providing napkins and water to the victim.
The restaurant franchisee said emergency services arrived within minutes to help the victim, and staff were relieved he was going to be alright.
It was the second in a string of stabbings over the course of a few hours, with police confirming on Sunday afternoon that a stabbing in Southbank was linked and the first to occur.
A man was stabbed outside Yankee’s Burger Bar on King Street on Saturday night.Credit: Yankee’s Burger Bar, King Street
In the Southbank incident, a 28-year-old Mount Waverley man was stabbed in the leg and torso while walking along City Road, near Kings Way, about 9.20pm.
The 24-year-old Melbourne man was then stabbed outside Yankee’s at about 10pm, before a couple walking along Dandenong Road in St Kilda East were attacked shortly before 11pm.
The woman, a 31-year-old from St Kilda East, was taken to hospital in a critical condition but has since stabilised. A 31-year-old man from Glen Waverley was taken to hospital with a serious arm injury.
In the fourth incident, a 31-year-old English tourist was stabbed on Acland Street in St Kilda at about 12.30am on Sunday. He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening leg injuries.
A crowd of passers-by stopped to assist the injured man outside the burger shop.Credit: Yankee’s Burger Bar, King Street
Detective Senior Sergeant Andrew Eyries said the attacks were random.
“It was completely random, and the victims would not have expected or known that they were going to be attacked,” he said at a press conference.
“All people involved in this particular incident were members of the public – they have no links whatsoever to the man that we have in custody,” he said.
The detective also reiterated the incidents were not terrorism-related.
An officer holding a bloodstained shirt at the burger store. Credit: Nine News
“We believe the victims that were randomly attacked on this particular occasion were people that were just going about their own business and have been cowardly attacked by this particular male, and it’s just another example of the issue that we’ve got ... with edged weapons.”
The Melton man, who was known to police, was spotted at South Yarra train station by a protective services officer.
The man was arrested in nearby Powell Street about 1.15am on Sunday after a foot chase and remains in custody.
Eyries said OC spray was used to subdue the man, who had resisted arrest.
Police at the scene on Acland Street in St Kilda, where a British tourist was stabbed.Credit: Nine News
“He was located with a bag with multiple-edged weapons in it, and it’s quite possible that different edged weapons were used at each individual scene, which is quite consistent with the varying injuries and severity of the injuries. So it’s quite possible that more than one knife was used.”
The officer said the man showed signs of drug, alcohol or mental health-related issues.
The detective said the man in police custody was wearing a distinctive lime green, hooded windcheater and dark cargo-style pants.
He urged any members of the public to get in touch if they had footage or saw the man.
The Melton man will face court on Monday.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
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