Gang of youths out of control in Taylors Hill, Melbourne

Victoria Police defend their actions as it emerges dozens of youths of African appearance who set upon officers last night were from two separate groups.

Dozens of police some in riot gear gather near Lonzo Park in Taylors Hill. Picture: Jason Edwards

Victoria Police have defended not arresting any of the dozens of youths of African appearance who set upon officers last, hurled rocks at their cars and smashing a windscreen, saying it was a short term tactical decision.

Police ordered people in ­Bronte Way, Taylors Hill, in Melbourne’s west, to lock their doors as they tried to gain control of a group that had gathered at about 7pm in a nearby park.

Projectiles, believed to be rocks, were hurled at officers and a police car was damaged before heavily armed specialist officers were called in.

A police car was damaged during the riot. Picture: Jason Edwards

Melbourne CBD and West Divisions Commander Tim Hansen said the gang of 100 were actually two groups who had met up to fight.

“It looked like it was two groups that had come together because of pre-existing tensions between the two groups and they had agreed to meet u[ there to have a fight initially,” he told 3AW.

Commander Hansen said the goal of police last night was to disperse the group.

“The short term objectives last night were to make the residents safe, and disperse that group and return a good order to that residential area.” he said.

He said an investigation was launched last night and police would be making moves today.

“I think you’ll find us moving through the western suburbs today at different times, speaking to people” he said. “I just want to reassure everyone we take a zero tolerance approach to this sort of behaviour.”

Taxi drivers were warned on their in-car message boards to avoid the area “due to a riot”.

No arrests had been made in the two hours after the violence broke out but police said they had “dispersed” the crowd.

One resident told the Herald Sun that police had told them the youths had gathered for “war”.

“I had to wait for (about) seven or eight to move from my driveway when I tried to drive into my garage,” a resident said.

Resident Peter Lazaridis told the Herald Sun he saw 30 youths of African appearance congregate at a local park. “I’m s**t scared,” Mr Lazaridis said

Police had told residents early on that they did not have the incident under control and people should lock themselves inside their homes.

Another resident told the Herald Sun: “In one area there is a massive group the police said were Sudanese and near the park in Bronte Way there was another really large group of Sudanese and they basically said they don’t have it under control but there is a strong police presence.

“They told me to stay inside, lock the doors and yeah, it’s scary, I’ve got a nine-year-old and an 11-year-old and they’re scared.”

One resident told the Herald Sun the youths had gathered for “war”. Picture: Jason Edwards

During the rampage, Victoria Police confirmed they were working to bring a group of youths under control in Taylors Hill.

“Police are currently responding to reports that a large group of youths have gathered in the Taylors Hill area,” a police spokeswoman said. “A number of projectiles, believed to be rocks, have been thrown and a police ­vehicle has been damaged. No one has been injured.

“Police are currently patrolling the area and monitoring the situation. No arrests have been made at this stage.”

Taylors Hill was the scene of a crime spree in January when two teenagers were attacked and two homes were broken into during a four-hour rampage in Melbourne’s western suburbs.

In one incident a 17-year-old in Taylors Hill was ambushed and hit with what appeared to be a baseball bat after refusing a demand for his possessions.

He was then dragged along the ground before the offenders fled in a car.

Police were searching for a number of men of African ­appearance after those incidents.