Melbourne’s Northland shopping centre was put into lockdown due to reports of multiple fights, prompting a response from Victoria police. Visuals on social media depicted an altercation with one individual brandishing a weapon described as a “large blade,” though the authenticity of these images has not been verified by Guardian Australia.
Police confirmed the shopping complex’s lockdown without commenting on the weapon’s nature. The incident occurred on Murray Road in Preston during the afternoon, with initial reports noting various people engaged in fights. The centre remained locked down as the incident underwent investigation.
A spokeswoman from Victorian police stated, “We are addressing reports of people fighting at a shopping centre in Preston this afternoon.”
Ambulance Victoria reported later that a man in his 20s sustained upper body injuries in the brawl and was taken to Royal Melbourne hospital in a serious but stable condition. Emergency services responded to the multiple-people-altercation at around 2:30 PM.
A witness, Michael Pavlou, described the scene as chaotic with panic and confusion. He saw groups of people running, initially believing it was a theft but soon realizing the extent of the situation when more individuals started running. Pavlou, who was with his three-year-old son, reported they began running too.
Pavlou did not witness the incident that triggered the chaos but observed people fleeing through areas like Myer and the food court. He and others attempted to swiftly exit, with the car park soon experiencing gridlock. Afterwards, they heard sirens and saw a helicopter.
No arrests had been confirmed by the police at the time. Customers were reportedly locked inside stores as authorities responded to the situation.
Police were expected to provide further updates on the situation later.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/25/there-was-panic-northland-shopping-centre-in-lockdown-after-reports-of-fight-involving-a-machete
