‘I hate these knives’: Jacinta Allan’s massive move after alleged ‘targeted’ attack plunges Northland Shopping Centre into lockdown

Jacinta Allan will fast-track the state’s machete ban to this Wednesday after two teenagerswere charged following a violent brawl in a shopping centre in Melbourne’s north, which left one person injured and plunged the entire shopping centre into lockdown.

Northland Shopping Centre was sent into lockdown at about 2.30pm Sunday, after reports of up to 10 people fighting, some armed with knives and machetes.

A 20-year-old man was seriously injured in the incident and taken to hospital, where he remains in a stable condition.

“Two other males, one with injuries, have since self-presented to hospital,” a Victoria Police statement read.

A 16-year-old Darebin boy and a 15-year-old Melton boy were arrested at the scene.

They have both since been charged with affray, intentionally cause injury, possess controlled weapon and use controlled weapon.

The two teenagers have been remanded to appear at a children’s court at a later date.

Two others, an 18-year-old Bundoora man and a 20-year-old Thornbury man, have also been arrested and are currently in custody being interviewed by police.

The incident sparked chaos at the shopping centre, with customers hiding inside shops while police stormed the centre.

While investigations are ongoing, police believe the fight was targeted and those involved were known to each other.

Victoria Police Commissioner David Clayton said on Monday that those involved in the brawl were “well-known to police”.

“This was a planned fight between two rival gangs with no innocent bystanders hurt,” he said.

“We’ve already identified all those who were (allegedly) involved, with more arrests imminent.”

He explained three machetes had been seized by police, though believe that four machetes were involved in the attack.

Commissioner Clayton said security ad police presences would be ramped up at Northland Shopping Centre for the next few weeks.

“The local police (and) public order response teams are currently patrolling Northland and the surrounds, and this will continue over the coming days and weekends,” he said.

On Monday morning, mounted police were seen patrolling the shopping centre parking lot.

On Monday morning, the Victorian Premier announced she would be accelerating the machete ban on Wednesday, and will bar all stores from selling the weapons.

The ban, which was expected to be put in place from September 1, will be fast-tracked to 12pm Wednesday.

“We’re doing this today as quickly as possible, because we must never let the places where we gather, the places where families come together to shop, to enjoy the peace of their weekend, become places we fear,” she said.

From midday Wednesday, shops must not supply or possess machetes for sale during the interim ban.

The ban will only cover machetes, featuring a blade longer than 20cm, and does not include kitchen knives.

The interim ban will take place from Wednesday until September 1, when a permanent ban will be put in place.

Retailers selling machetes are advised to store excess stock in a safe place until the disposal, amnesty and exemption schemes have come into force.

“In Victoria, community safety comes first. We must never let places we meet become places we fear,” Ms Allan said in a statement.

“I hate these knives, and I will keep introducing as many laws as it takes to get them off our streets, out of our shops and out of our lives.”

Minister for Police Anthony Carbines said police and the “community shouldn’t have to deal with these weapons in shopping centres”.

“We introduced Australia’s toughest bail laws, we’re toughening bail for knife crimes and expanding random knife search powers – now we’re ordering machetes off shelves and banning their possession,” he said.

Those caught with possession of the prohibited weapon will face penalties including up to two years in jail or a fine of over $47,000.

Victoria Police Superintendent Kelly Lawson told the Herald Sun the brawl was “not a random attack” and was possibly intended as “an act of retaliation”.

“(This was) a fight between two rival gangs occurred in the food court,” she said.

“It was a planned event, they had prearranged to meet here.

Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the “targeted” incident, labelling it as “appalling”.

“In Victoria, community safety comes first,” she said in a statement.

What we have seen at Northland Shopping Centre this afternoon is appalling and I condemn it.

“I want to thank Victoria Police, our first responders and the shop owners, staff and the public who were all incredibly brave responding to this incident.

“Victoria Police has (alleged) this was a targeted attack and have taken two people into custody.”