Police say fatal stabbing in Lyndhurst was ‘targeted’ attack

A man who was brutally stabbed in the car park of a shopping centre in Melbourne’s southeast knew his attackers, police say, as they flagged fears of the possibility of retribution.

Fears loom of a possible retaliatory attack following the death of a young man allegedly stabbed with machetes and other edged weapons late on Friday night.

The 24-year-old Clyde man was sitting in his car outside Marriott Waters Shopping Centre in Lyndhurst when a group of about 10 armed males surrounded him about 8.30pm.

Investigators at the scene of the fatal stabbing at Marriott Waters Shopping Centre in Lyndhurst. Picture: Andrew Hosking

Police believe a dispute occurred before the man was chased down, cornered and stabbed several times in a loading dock at the shopping complex. He died at The Alfred Hospital later that night.

Police will probe whether those involved in what they believe was a targeted attack have any gang affiliations, after it was discovered the victim and his alleged attackers were known to each other.

Armed crime squad detective inspector Adam Tilley said police were concerned about the potential for a retaliatory attack.

“Any incident that plays out in this nature involving machetes or edged weapons is a concern to us,” he said.

Police tape at the scene where the man was stabbed. Picture: Andrew Hosking

Detective Inspector Tilley said police understood the group of African males arrived in a Hyundai Kona sedan.

After a short “dispute”, the victim attempted to drive away but collided into another vehicle.

Detective Inspector Tilley said the man was able to stumble a short distance after he was assaulted, collapsing on the pavement outside a store.

Detective Inspector Adam Tilley alleges the attack was targeted. Picture: David Crosling

A shop owner rushed out to offer the man first aid before emergency services arrived.

Police have spoken with the man’s family who according to Detective Inspector Tilley were left “traumatised” by reports of their son’s death.

Lyndhurst resident Abhijeet Singh, 35, was in his car on the way to get groceries when he noticed the group, of whom he suspected were teenagers, all gathered outside Crust Pizza.

“I saw a group of 10 to 20 young people gathered around a silver sedan,” Mr Singh said.

“Within seconds, something had happened and they were running in every direction, all screaming.

“That’s when I saw two guys running towards the Subway, one of them had a machete in his hand.”

For Mr Singh, the incident on Friday night has left him feeling “fearful”. He moved to the area just last year in the hopes of living in a safer neighbourhood.

CCTV footage captures men running on the other side of the street.

Victorian Opposition leader Brad Battin called out Premier Jacinta Allan for failing to act sooner on a machete ban.

Mr Battin said he would support prohibiting machetes as soon as possible, calling on the Allan government to stop delaying legislation change and “get it done now” instead.

Premier Jacinta Allan labelling the man’s death as a “tragedy” before defending the government’s decision to wait six months before enforcing a machete ban.

“This is a tragedy and my thoughts are with the family and friends of this young man,” Ms Allan said.

In response to criticism from Mr Battin about the government’s failure to enact the machete ban “as soon as possible, the Premier insisted the decision was in line with Victoria Police.

“I am listening and I am acting, with Australia’s toughest bail laws and Australia’s first machete ban - machetes are destroying lives so we will destroy machetes,” she said.

Originally published as Police say fatal stabbing in Lyndhurst was ‘targeted’ attack