Two violent crimes on a notorious intersection in Melbourne at the weekend have highlighted the dire state of the Victorian capital.
Earlier this month Melbourne was labelled Australia’s ‘most liveable city’ by Timeout, however, some business owners in the CBD have complained the threat of violent crime has become a concerning part of their everyday life.
Three people were slashed in two separate alleged machete attacks on Saturday night and Sunday morning near the intersection of Elizabeth and Flinders Streets.
This is despite the weapons being banned throughout the state of Victoria by the Labor government in 2025.
The first victim, aged 17, was set upon by a group of youths allegedly armed with a machete about 10.30pm Saturday.
Horrifying CCTV footage obtained by 9News showed the group threw the teenager to the ground before robbing him.
The group fled before officers arrived at the scene, however, police later arrested five males and one female at Newport and Footscray stations.
They were interviewed by officers and released pending further investigation.
A man was threatened with a machete and robbed (above) by a group near the intersection of Elizabeth and Flinders Streets at 10.30pm on Saturday
When a worker at a nearby store was asked about the confronting attack, he said: ‘It’s pretty normal here in Elizabeth Street.’
Another alleged machete attack at 5am on Sunday, also near the intersection, resulted in the arrest of another six people – four of whom were on bail.
Two people were left with machete cuts after two groups, aged between 16 and 23, broke out into a fight.
It’s alleged a boy, aged 17, produced the weapon during the brawl.
He was charged with intentionally causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence, affray, possession of a prohibited weapon, drug possession and committing an indictable offence while on bail.
A 19-year-old was charged with affray, assault, and committing an indictable offence while on bail.
A 16-year-old girl, also on bail, was charged with affray.
A 23-year-old man from Laverton was charged with theft and committing an indictable offence while on bail.
Two people were allegedly slashed with a machete near the same intersection at 5am on Sunday (pictured is blood at the scene)
Two other teenage girls – aged 17 and 19 – were released without charge.
Anyone with information about either incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Business owner Kirk Pearson described the CBD as ‘a real life Mos Eisley, a wretched hive of scum and villainy’.
‘Well, it’s just a dump,’ he said.
‘You could be making money but it’s just not worth the hassle because you’re just putting up with. You’re in danger every day coming to work.’
