Shocking new footage has revealed the terrifying moment two young men were ambushed by a group of hooded attackers armed with a large machete in Melbourne. The violent incident, which unfolded on New Year's Eve, has left both victims fighting for their lives in hospital.
Chaos on Lygon Street
Emergency services were called to the Universal Restaurant on Lygon Street in Carlton at approximately 11.45pm on Wednesday night. The call came from panicked New Year revellers who reported a stabbing. CCTV footage obtained by 7News shows a group of up to seven masked and hooded men throwing punches at the two victims on the busy strip.
A shout of terror can be heard in the video before one of the young men is struck multiple times. A woman is seen fleeing the scene as the violence erupts. One attacker, wearing a black hooded jumper, is then seen brandishing a large machete at a young man lying defenceless on the pavement.
Miraculously, the two injured men managed to escape by stumbling into a nearby shop. A 20-year-old man from Heidelberg West and an 18-year-old man from New South Wales sustained serious injuries. Ambulance Victoria confirmed both males had been stabbed in the chest and were transported in a critical condition to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Witnesses Describe Harrowing Scene
Witnesses at the scene provided immediate aid before paramedics arrived. Ali Kassem said his sister-in-law took control, applying pressure to one of the victim's wounds. "The boys that done the stabbing, they were out to get someone," he told 7News. "Shame. Shame on you, boys. That's disgusting. If you're a man enough, talk it out."
The owner of a nearby juice bar, Juiced Lygon, recounted serving one of the victims just minutes before the attack. "I recognised him immediately. A few minutes before this happened, we served him and his friends juice. He wished my sister a happy new year... Not even five minutes later, he was bleeding out in front of me," he told the Herald Sun.
Another witness described her desperate plea to emergency services as she tended to a victim. "I kept saying to paramedics on the phone, what am I supposed to do? Help me, help me, please quickly... He's going to die, he's just a young boy," she said.
Police Hunt and Legislative Backdrop
Police are still hunting for the group responsible. Detectives from the Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit are investigating whether the incident was a targeted attack. Authorities are urging anyone with information, CCTV, or dashcam footage to contact Crime Stoppers.
The attack comes in the wake of a state-wide ban on machetes introduced by Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan in September. The ban, a response to escalating knife crime, makes it illegal to own, use, carry, transport, or sell such weapons without an exemption. Convictions can result in up to two years in jail or a $47,000 fine. A three-month amnesty for people to hand in machetes concluded on November 30.
The Carlton stabbing was one of several incidents across Victoria on New Year's Eve. State-wide, 18 people were arrested for offences including assaults, driving, and property crimes. Police also reported up to 313 fireworks-related offences. In New South Wales, over 2,500 officers were deployed across Sydney, leading to 38 arrests in Greater Sydney for various offences.
