Two armed street gangs - Apex and Islander 23 - have clashed violently in Melbourne's CBD during the ongoing Moomba Festival.
According to Kelly Grindley, Media Officer (Victoria Police), police teams were called to "the entertainment precinct at the corner of Swanston and Flinders streets about 7.50 pm yesterday following reports a large group of youths were fighting."
Dramatic footage of the clash shows almost 200 hundred people running a riot down the streets, with many jumping over parked cars and sending terrified innocent bystanders running from Federation Square and Swanston Street.
A number of youths were arrested at the scene while others fled on foot. Police also deployed OC spray to assist dispersing the group.
It is believed a number of these youths may have caused damage on Swanston Street, indulged in a number of street robberies, and an assault in the CBD area.
All these incidents are currently under investigation says Grindley - “Police are investigating a series of incidents which occurred at Federation Square and surrounding areas in Melbourne’s CBD overnight.”
Police are keen to identify the youths involved in the Federation Square incident and are currently reviewing a large amount of CCTV footage. And urge anyone with information about the incidents to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
