Melbourne police officer attacked during arrest involving gang of youths

A police officer has been injured after being attacked by a youth at a Melbourne shopping centre while arresting another boy for shoplifting.

File image of Victoria Police officers. Source: AAP

A police officer questioning a teen shoplifter has been surrounded by a gang of youths and assaulted at a Melbourne shopping centre.

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested for theft and police are searching for a second youth over the assault on the police officer at Highpoint Shopping Centre on Tuesday afternoon.

Police say the officer was arresting the 16-year-old when he was assaulted by a second teen before being surrounded by a large gang of youths of African appearance.

The officer was treated by paramedics at the scene.