Police believe up to 15 attackers were involved in a brawl that left two men "fighting for life" in Melbourne's south-east.
The victims, aged 24 and 22, were rushed to hospital with serious upper body injuries after being stabbed during the attack near a popular entertainment strip in Glen Waverley.
Detective Sergeant Dale Maxwell described the attack, which occurred about 1am on Monday, as "a savage beating".
"They were left, essentially, fighting for their lives by the offenders who fled the scene."
Sergeant Maxwell said the men, from Hoppers Crossing, were recovering from surgery in hospital and were yet to be interviewed by 2pm.
He said police believed the attack was not random, and the victims were targeted by the armed group.
Forensic investigators and crime scene photographers spent Monday morning inside the King's Centre multi-storey complex, near the corner of Kingsway and Montclair Avenue.
Outside the venue, a small amount of blood could be seen on the footpath on Monday.
Police have called for any witnesses, people with security footage or anyone with information to contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.
