Victoria Police offer scant details on frightening machete attack at Melbourne shopping centre after man's arm slashed
The incident unfolded around 8pm on Saturday when a 33-year-old man was approached by a group of men at Central Square Shopping Centre in Altona Meadows.
Police said investigators have been told the victim was pushed to the ground before one of the alleged offenders pulled out an "edged weapon" and struck the man's forearm.
The group then fled the scene with the man's phone, while the victim was taken to hospital for serious injuries. Police believe the parties are not known to each other.
Victoria Police did not release a public statement about the incident, but informed SkyNews.com.au of the details when contacted directly.
No information was released that may assist the public in helping identify the alleged perpetrators.
While there were no reports on Victoria Police's website or social media platforms at time of publication, a post was shared on Facebook earlier on Monday morning about wet weather, reminding motorists to be vigilant on the roads while driving.
Police said investigations into the shopping centre attack are ongoing.
The Herald Sun reports the 33-year-old man almost lost part of his hand after he was slashed by the machete.
Victoria Ambulance said the man was treated at the scene for "upper body injuries" before he was taken in a serious but stable condition to Royal Melbourne Hospital.
In a separate incident on Sunday night, a teenage boy was rushed to hospital with critical injuries after he was stabbed at Broadmeadows Central shopping centre in Melbourne's north.
Speaking to media on Monday, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan defended the state's machetes crackdown after she was asked if the ban should be implemented sooner in the wake of the attacks.
"We've already got a ban in place here in Victoria on the sale of machetes," Ms Allan said.
The Premier confirmed earlier this year that Victoria would bring forward its ban on machetes, which will officially come into effect on September 1.
An interim ban was put in place on the sale of machetes in May following a wild brawl between rival gangs at Northland Shopping Centre in Melbourne's north.
Ms Allan said the machete sales ban has already had a "great effect" regarding physical retailers while online outlets have taken machetes out of circulation.
"The statewide ban, Australia's first ban on machetes, comes into place on September 1 and that timeline is being worked on with Victorian police as the quickest and safest way to get rid of these dangerous weapons," Ms Allan said on Monday.
"It took the United Kingdom 18 months to bring about a ban on machetes in their nation, we're doing it in less than six, and it comes into place on September 1."
Asked if she was comfortable with the official ban still being months away, Ms Allan backed in the timeline being worked on with Victoria Police.
"The start of September was identified as the safest and quickest way, based on the advice of Victorian Police, to get those dangerous weapons off our streets," she said.
"But we've acted earlier than that in bringing about the ban on the sale of machetes, which has already been in place and it is already working."
Ms Allan labelled the incidents in Altona Meadows on the weekend as "just horrific", adding her thoughts are with the man and his family as he recovers.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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