Horrifying footage has captured the moment a group of masked, machete-wielding youths leap from a moving car on an inner-city Melbourne street and attack two men in broad daylight.
In the footage, obtained by 9News, about six youths can be seen jumping out of a stolen white Haval and chasing down two men on Bay St and Lalor St in Port Melbourne.
Some can be seen armed with metal poles and at least one can be seen carrying a machete.
One of the victims was caught as he tried to run for his life.
He can be heard screaming “help, help help” as three of the offenders beat and kick him.
A neighbour told Nine it was “absolute ruckus” and called for a heavier police presence in the area.
“There was yelling, there was screaming. A metal pole was used in the ambush and punches are thrown as the victim tries to defend himself on the pavement, they were fully beating him on the ground,” a witness said.
“My daughter was traumatised.
“I left South Africa to not go through the violence and the crime that I witnessed at her age.
“I moved to the UK, I witnessed the same thing, and now it’s right outside my front door in Australia.”
Another witness said the offenders were fully beating the victim on the ground.
“It’s scary to know that kids have the gall and guts to do this,” she said.
A tradie reportedly tried to stop the youths by throwing bricks and a sledgehammer which smashed the sunroof of a stolen car, but the alleged offenders grabbed the weapon.
A shop owner said one of the youths went into his store and asked to hide but he told him to get out.
“Youth gangs at their best, shocking,” he said.
A police spokesman said when they arrived at the scene the vehicle and those involved in the brawl had fled the scene.
“At this stage no victims have come forward to report the incident to police,” a spokesman said.
“The ongoing investigation has established the Haval was stolen from a gym in Clyde North on Saturday. It remains outstanding.”
Detectives are investigating the incident and urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
