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The 19-year-old was found with stab wounds to his torso on the corner of Kitchener and Goulburn Street in Broadmeadows in the city’s north about 9.35pm on Saturday, outside an NRL Harmony tournament at Seabrook Reserve intended to celebrate culture and diversity. He was rushed to hospital with serious injuries and was in a stable condition. Police had been called to the scene following reports of a brawl nearby. Investigators understand a group of men, some armed with machetes, were fighting on Cuthbert and Joffre Streets, about 500 metres away from the scene of the stabbing, in the minutes prior at about 9.30pm. Police suspect the two incidents are linked. Footage shared by 7News showed families reacting in terror as two hooded thugs ran through the crowd of around 1000 people at Seabrook Reserve holding machetes at around 9pm. “He’s got a knife!” a terrified woman is heard screaming. No arrests have been made. The group, all described as being in their late teens, left the scene before police arrived. Local resident Ahmet Ozkaya — who lives directly in front of where the 19-year-old man was found stabbed — said it was becoming less safe to let the kids out the front alone. “It’s scary you know, it could happen to me, it could happen to my children,” Mr Ozkaya told the Herald Sun. “We always try to be together with them, wherever they want to go, then we collect them together. This is the feeling, you know, as a parent.” Police are investigating, but are being hindered by the stabbing victim. “At this time he’s been uncooperative,” Detective Sergeant Matthew Feben told reporters. Mr Feben said it was “appalling” to have weapons at a family event. “It is completely unacceptable in any location for youths or anyone to be armed with a machete, especially being related to a peaceful community event,” he said. “These are people just trying to go about an event in their community, they want to feel safe. They don’t want to experience this, they are no doubt feeling now in fear and distress.” The stabbing is only the latest violent incident to rock Melbourne in the past month. Under-fire Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has however maintained the city is safe. The latest incident happened just 10 metres away from one of the city’s machete bins. Victoria Police also insist the machete ban is working. The amnesty ends on November 30. Over the past 12 months, police say 13,000 knives and other edged weapons have been seized. Victorian opposition leader Brad Battin, however, says the Premier isn’t doing enough to keep Victorians safe. “Jacinta Allan can’t continue to say it’s safe here in Victoria, when people are getting stabbed in the streets,” he told 9News. Anyone who witnessed the incidents, has CCTV or dashcam footage, or any other information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.
