A 14-year-old boy is among five people charged after a fight between teenagers at a busy Melbourne shopping centre which left one person fighting for life.
Police allege a fight broke out between two men and a group of young people at the Watergardens Shopping Centre food court at about 7pm on Wednesday.
A 19-year-old from Sunbury was taken to hospital in a critical condition after what police called "a serious stabbing".
"The quick actions of local police and PSOs saw the arrest of the teenagers outside Watergardens Train Station a short time later," a Victoria Police spokesperson said.
The shopping complex in Taylors Lakes, north-west of Melbourne CBD, has hundreds of stores and is often particularly busy in the lead-up to Christmas.
Large portions of the food court were cordoned off with police tape on Wednesday night.
Officers were seen arresting five people.
A 14-year-old from nearby St Albans was later charged with intentionally causing serious injury and affray.
A 17-year-old from Kings Park, a 17-year-old from Deer Park, a 17-year-old from Burnside Heights and a 16-year-old from St Albans were all charged with affray.
Police said all the teens would appear before a bail justice for remand hearings.
Any witnesses or people with mobile phone footage who have not spoken to police already are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online.
