Taylors Hill riot: residents caught in brawl tell of horror night

Residents in the Melbourne suburb where rival South Sudanese gangs clashed last night tell of their hours of horror.

A police car damaged during a riot in Taylors Hill. Picture: Jason Edwards

A violent street brawl that broke out in Melbourne’s northwest last night, prompting police to order terrified residents indoors, involved rival groups of South Sudanese youths and was sparked by a Facebook post, according to a prominent South Sudanese lawyer.

Maker Mayek has told Sky News that he had been advised by police that the Taylors Hill fracas, which saw dozens of young people hurl rocks at police, resulted from the publication on socially media of an impending fight.

Lawyer @MakMayek on youth crime in Victoria:

'There will always be disenfranchised youth, and the role of the police in engaging with communities will always be required.'

MORE: https://t.co/Ng8WblZrCH #SkyLiveNow pic.twitter.com/70TvlI3VTw

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) August 9, 2018

“What I have been told is there was a Facebook post that was put out there by some young people saying there was going to be a fight somewhere in Taylors Hill between young people from the South Sudanese community from the east and the west,” Mr Mayek said.

“A lot of others turned up … to witness that fight.”

According to Victoria Police Graham Ashton told ABC Melbourne that Sudanese Australians were involved in the fight which he understood was over girlfriends.

“We had a group of about 20 or 30, it was kids from our Australian Sudanese (community) coming from the southern suburbs to meet up with kids from the northern suburbs to have a bit of clash there … about girlfriends or something like that,” he said.

The latest incident involving youths from African backgrounds has sparked a strong political reaction.

“It was just appalling behaviour, completely unacceptable … a large group causing a bit of fear and uncertainty in the community,” Victoria’s Police Minister Lisa Neville said, while Premier Daniel Andrews agreed the incident would have been “very, very distressing for local residents”.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said it was an “absolute disgrace” and “not something we should be accepting in 21st century Melbourne”.

“It highlights to every Victorian what the crisis is in our city around law and order,” Mr Guy said.

Federal Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, who has been outspoken in recent months about Melbourne’s African crime problem, also chimed in, warning that someone could get killed.

“This is our country, everybody, regardless of your skin colour, religion, you abide by the one law,” he told Sydney radio 2GB.

“In 2018 having people riot like this … a scene from some other part of the world is unacceptable.

Dutton: Someone will be killed

Taylors Hills residents this morning expressed shock and disbelief over the incident, which kicked off around 5.30pm on Wednesday.

Dozens of heavily armed officers were at the scene for several hours, with traffic diverted away from the area. Police ordered residents of Bronte Way to lock their doors, as dozens of youths ran amok outside, hurling rocks at police, smashing the rear window of a patrol car. Several residents have reported abuse and threats of violence. One man reported several youths hiding in his front yard as police attempted to gain control of the situation.

One resident said that some of the youths were threatening his family.

“Some said ‘what are you looking at you white trash. Don’t be shocked if we raid your house’,” he said.

“They said they wanted to break into our house.”

He said police were covering the area but the youths didn’t appear scared.

The man recalled asking an officer whether his family was in danger and was told to go back inside “before you get hurt”.

Dozens of police some in riot gear walk through traffic in Taylors Hill. Picture: Jason Edwards

Another resident, Maree, who declined to provide her surname, said she confronted a young girl who kicked her fence.

“I said don’t come around here causing trouble,” she said.

“Then her friend said ‘you’re racist’.

Maree said police told her to go back inside her home: “I thought this isn’t right. I should be able to come out here and feel safe.”

Victoria Police Commander, Tim Hansen told Seven’s Sunrise that intelligence suggested that there had been “simmering tension” between two groups of young males.

“We are really trying to unpack that and understand that,” he said.

“We got some intelligence last night that these tensions were simmering away and likely to come to a head in the western suburbs. So we immediately activated one of our plans and pooled resources and involved our response team.”

He denied that the problem was widespread.

“It is in pockets. We are certainly engaged with some of these persons that are operating in what you would call street gangs, I guess,” he said.

Mr Mayek praised police for their prompt reaction: “The police saw the post and … reacted immediately”.

Mr Mayek, who has recently spoken out about the racist rhetoric stemming from publicity of Melbourne’s African gang issue, acknowledged the impact that reoccurring incidents of violence was having on the wider community.

“It’s really regrettable,” he said.

“No one wants to be unsafe in their homes; people were saying their children were terrified. I do understand members of the wider community say they’re terrified by the actions of these young people.

“We want to send the message the community does not condone this. These things should not happen.”

Mr Mayek expressed frustration with the culprits but was reluctant to describe the incident as gang crime.

“If it is gang violence there must be a very dumb and stupid group of young people thinking that they can put out a public statement (on Facebook) and that they are going to get away with it.

“The police are tracking them down. If it’s a gang violence they will have their day before a court of law and they will be dealt with.”

Police have said they are confident of making arrests.

With AAP