Machete fight in Melbourne triggers weapon ban in Australia's Victoria state

Immediate measure reflects rising concern over weapon accessibility

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Australia's Victoria state is fast-tracking a ban on the sale of machetes following a violent clash between rival youth gangs at a shopping centre in Melbourne's north, authorities announced on Monday.

The incident, which occurred on Sunday afternoon at Northland shopping centre in Preston, involved up to 10 individuals.

Victoria Police Acting Deputy Commissioner for Regional Operations David Clayton confirmed that authorities are actively pursuing three additional suspects linked to the violent incident, whose identities are already known to police, according to a report on Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia's principal public service broadcaster.

Investigators recovered three machetes at the scene and believe a fourth weapon was also used during the altercation.

So far, four individuals have been charged in connection with the brawl. Meanwhile, the Victorian government is set to implement a ban on machete sales starting from midday Wednesday.

Victoria will become the first state in Australia to ban the sale of machetes, which are broadly defined as knives with blades longer than 20cm.

The new law, part of amendments to the Control of Weapons Act, excludes kitchen knives.

Emergency services were called to the scene just after 14:30 local time (05:30 BST) on Sunday. Three of the four machetes used have been seized, with the police investigation still ongoing and more arrests expected.

In March, Victoria passed new laws targeting the sale and possession of machetes. A three-month amnesty starting in September will allow people to safely surrender their weapons at police stations.

Premier Allan contrasted Victoria’s swift action with the UK's timeline for a similar ban. "It took the United Kingdom 18 months to bring about a ban on machetes, and we are moving to do it within six months," she said.

Police thanked a bystander who restrained one of the alleged attackers until officers arrived, describing his actions as "outstanding", though they urged the public not to intervene in future incidents.

In the UK, a ban on so-called "zombie knives" and machetes came into effect in September 2023, making it illegal to manufacture, own, or sell such weapons.