Two teenagers suffered slash wounds when they were attacked with machetes near Luna Park in St Kilda on Sunday night, as the Victorian government faces pressure over crime in the state.
Police believe a group of males armed with machetes went up to the teenage boys on Cavell Street, St Kilda, at about 6.35pm where they allegedly assaulted the boys before fleeing in a grey-coloured Land Rover.
The two boys were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Their car was involved in a minor collision with another car at the intersection of The Esplanade and Cavell Street before fleeing towards the Melbourne CBD.
The car remains unaccounted for and police continue to search for the group and their vehicle.
The use of machetes in violent crimes continues to be a major concern for government and police despite the state government tightening bail laws and introducing machete bins for people to hand in weapons.
St Kilda residents noticed a number of police cars responding to the attack in the busy food and entertainment area and it came just hours after police commander Wayne Cheesman expressed the force’s frustration with the “crime crisis”, a lack of police and officers being needed to monitor protests instead of working their normal beats.
No arrests have been made so far and police have appealed for witnesses or anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage to contact www.crimestoppers.com.au or call 1800 333 000.
