Melbourne violence: eight months of trouble
Victoria has endured regular violence and disorder in recent months, often involving youths of African appearance.
How violence and disorder has been dealt with in recent months in Victoria.
December 13 and 14, 2017: Police struggle to control a series of wild brawls at Melbourne’s St Kilda Beach as up to 200 young people of African appearance allegedly rob and assault beachgoers and trash a McDonald’s restaurant. Two arrests but no charges.
December 18, 2017: Youths trash an Airbnb house in Werribee and pelt police with rocks. Two people are charged, three more youths are arrested and then let go pending further inquiries.
January 4, 2018: A gang goes on a violent rampage through Melbourne’s west that includes several street assaults and aggravated break-ins in Delahey, Taylors Hill and Hillside, where a 59-year-old woman is assaulted. A 17-year-old male has been charged with armed robbery and other offences.
February 3: 40 African men turn up at an Airbnb party attended by up to 100 schoolkids in Malvern East and start brawling. No arrests made at the time.
April 29: Up to 50 African youths trash an Airbnb property in North Melbourne. At one point police hide in the house because of growing crowds outside. Four people are arrested, but released pending further inquiries.
May 5: Up to 150 youths of African appearance trash a short-term rental property in Footscray. Five teens are charged with offences including theft, criminal damage and drunken behaviour.
June 30: Dozens of young people of African appearance destroy an Airbnb property and bash two neighbours at a party in Hawthorn. One teenager, who was out on bail at the time, is charged.
July 21: Melbourne teenager Laa Chol, 19, dies after being stabbed when a group of African Australian men turn up uninvited to a girls’ night at a CBD apartment and a fight ensues. A 17-year-old male is charged with murder and a 16-year-old male is charged with accessory to murder.
August 8: Rival groups of South Sudanese youths organise a fight in Taylors Hill, posting details on Facebook. Dozens of youths go on a rampage through suburban streets, pelting police with rocks and abusing residents.
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