Two young men are fighting for their lives in hospital following a violent stabbing in Melbourne's inner north on New Year's Eve. The attack, involving a group armed with knives and machetes, has cast a shadow over celebrations in the popular Carlton dining precinct.
Violent Attack on Lygon Street
The incident occurred just before midnight on Wednesday, December 31st. A 20-year-old man from Heidelberg West and an 18-year-old man from New South Wales were standing outside a restaurant on Lygon Street, near the intersection of Argyle Place in Carlton, when they were allegedly set upon.
Victoria Police reported that a group of up to seven men, armed with weapons including knives and machetes, attacked the two victims. The assailants fled the scene in several cars just before the start of the new year, leaving the two men with serious stab wounds.
Police Launch Targeted Attack Investigation
Emergency services rushed the injured men to hospital, where they remain in serious but stable conditions. Detectives from the Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit have taken charge of the case and are working to determine a motive.
"Melbourne Crime Investigation unit detectives will investigate if the incident was a targeted attack," a police statement confirmed. The specific circumstances leading to the violence are now the focus of an active investigation.
Appeal for Public Information
Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward to assist their inquiries. Police are particularly keen to speak to witnesses who were in the Lygon Street area around 11:45pm on New Year's Eve.
They have also called for anyone with relevant CCTV or dashcam footage from the vicinity to contact Crime Stoppers. The appeal highlights the importance of community assistance in solving this serious crime.
Investigations remain ongoing as police work to identify and locate the group of men responsible for the brutal assault.
