Two young men are fighting for their lives in hospital after being brutally set upon by a gang armed with machetes on one of Melbourne's most famous streets.
New Year's Eve Ambush on Iconic Strip
The horrific assault occurred just before midnight on Wednesday, December 31st, on Lygon Street in Carlton. The victims, a 20-year-old local Melbourne man and an 18-year-old visitor from New South Wales, were celebrating the New Year when they were ambushed.
A group of approximately seven men launched the violent attack in front of horrified families and late-night diners enjoying the popular restaurant precinct. Shocking CCTV footage of the incident has been obtained by police, but due to the extreme brutality, authorities have chosen not to release all of the video publicly.
Victims Escape but Left with Critical Injuries
Despite the overwhelming odds, the two victims managed to break free from their attackers and flee the scene. However, both sustained critical, life-threatening injuries from the machete wounds and were rushed to hospital where they remain in a critical condition.
The gang of assailants fled immediately after the attack, leaving the two men bleeding on the street. Victoria Police have launched a major investigation to track down those responsible for the horrific Lygon Street stabbing.
Police Warning and End of Machete Amnesty
Victoria Police Commander Tim Tully issued a stark warning to anyone considering carrying such weapons. "Really, if you carry any edge weapon without any exemption whatsoever, you're going down three paths," Commander Tully said. "You're either going to jail, you're going to hospital, or you're going to a cemetery. It's as simple as that."
The attack comes in the wake of Victoria's controversial machete amnesty, which concluded on November 30. The amnesty allowed people to surrender such weapons without penalty. Now, anyone caught carrying a machete without a lawful excuse faces up to two years in prison.
Police are urging anyone with information about the Lygon Street machete attack, including witnesses or anyone with dashcam or mobile phone footage, to contact Crime Stoppers immediately.
