Chaos erupted in Melbourne's southeast on Wednesday afternoon after a large group of hundreds of teenagers stormed a local supermarket before a violent brawl broke out on the nearby beach, forcing police to deploy specialist units including the riot squad.
Supermarket Stormed and Beach Brawl
The incident began around 3pm on Wednesday at Mordialloc Beach, where a significant crowd of youths had gathered. The group then rushed into the nearby Woolworths supermarket, creating mayhem inside the store. Witnesses reported shelves being knocked over and acts of shoplifting as the teens caused a major commotion.
After disrupting the supermarket, the large group moved back towards the beach, congregating near the iconic Mordialloc Pier. It was there that the situation escalated dramatically into a massive physical brawl involving numerous participants.
Major Police Response to Restore Order
In response to the escalating violence and public disorder, Victoria Police mounted a significant operation. Officers from the riot squad and the public order response team were urgently deployed to the scene at Mordialloc Beach to disperse the crowd and regain control.
The police AirWing was also activated to monitor the chaotic situation from the air, providing a bird's-eye view of the sprawling incident. The situation turned even more dangerous when some members of the group turned on the arriving police officers, throwing bottles and other projectiles at them.
Arrest Made and Investigation Ongoing
During the operation, police managed to detain one teenager. That individual is currently being questioned by authorities on potential charges including affray and assaulting police. Despite the volatile nature of the event, Victoria Police confirmed that no injuries were reported and that no weapons were sighted during the incident.
Authorities have stated that their investigations into the full circumstances of the supermarket invasion and the subsequent beach brawl are continuing. The event has raised concerns about public safety and group behaviour in the popular bayside suburb.
