Thirteen youths, including a 15-year-old from Diggers Rest, have been charged following an alleged foiled gang knife fight in Watergardens earlier this month.
On April 5 about 5pm, police were called to the local shopping centre following reports of a group of 12 youths causing a disturbance.
Upon police arrival, each of the youths were searched, with two found in possession of a machete and knife respectively.
A 15-year-old boy from Deer Park and a 14-year-old boy from St Albans were arrested on the night and initially charged with possession of a controlled weapon.
A further four machetes and a tactical knife were located hidden in nearby bushes on the night, while shopping centre security also located another machete.
Shortly after these searches, police conducted a further patrol around the shopping centre, locating two more groups of youths in a Mazda CX7 wagon and a Ford Falcon sedan.
Police located an imitation firearm under the driver’s seat of the Ford Falcon sedan, arresting the 19-year-old male driver from Kings Park. He was charged with related weapons offences.
A further four machetes, three knives, an extendable baton, and a box cutter were located in the Mazda CX7 wagon.
Overall police seized nine machetes, five knives, one extendable baton, one box cutter, and one imitation firearm on the evening.
Following the averted confrontation, police made a series of follow up arrests between April 10 and 16.
The 15-year-old boy from Deer Park and 14-year-old boy from St Albans were re-arrested. As a result, the 15-year-old was also charged with affray and being armed with criminal intent, while the 14-year-old was located with a further machete when he was arrested which was seized. He was charged with affray, behaving in a riotous manner, being armed with criminal intent and possession of a controlled weapon.
A further ten youths were arrested and charged in connection to the incident.
Six boys charged with affray and behave in a riotous manner in a public place including two 13-year-olds from St Albans, two 15-year-olds from Keilor Downs, a 15-year-old from Taylors Lakes, and a 15-year-old from Taylors Hill.
Four boys charged with affray, behave in a riotous manner in a public place, being armed with criminal intent and possessing a controlled weapon, including a 14-year-old from Keilor Downs, a 14-year-old from Aintree, a 15-year-old from St Albans, and a 15-year-old from Diggers Rest. The 14-year-old from Keilor Downs was also charged with possessing cannabis.
