A fatal stabbing attack on two boys in Melbourne by eight masked attackers armed with machetes and long edged weapons had “the hallmarks of a youth gang crime”, Victoria police say.
A 12-year-old and 15-year-old Dau Akueng were found fatally stabbed on separate streets in Cobblebank, in the city’s west, on Saturday night.
Det Insp Graham Banks said police were searching for up to eight male attackers but he gave few details about the group who were older than the victims.
The attacks were initially believed to be part of a series of targeted attacks, and Banks said it was possible that the groups knew each other. But he said it may also have been a case of mistaken identity.
The 12-year-old was so young he was unlikely to have been a member of a gang, Banks said.
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The group of attackers covered their faces with face masks, he said. Police believe them to be members of a youth gang but have not identified which one.
Banks said they fled in a vehicle.
“It has the hallmarks of a youth gang crime,” Banks said.
“It is one of the most horrific crimes in a substantial and growing list of crimes of this nature. The children who were murdered were not gang members and it is not OK to remain silent.”
The older victim was named on Sunday as Dau Akueng.
His father, Elbino said his son and friends were attacked while walking home from a local basketball game.
The community had buried four children in the past month, Akueng said.
“Similar incidents happening, there’s no answer from police,” he told reporters at the scene on Sunday morning.
An emotional Aboil Alor, a friend of the Akueng family, said the boys didn’t deserve to die.
“We needed justice especially for those children, 12 and 15 years old,” she said.
Banks said police will “throw every resource” into the investigation.
“We will be aiming to arrest these people in coming days. That’s our objective”.
Banks said youth crime had been steadily getting worse for a decade and he called on the state government to increase sentences for youth criminals.
“As I stand here before you, I think the penalties aren’t in balance with what community expectations are, or mine.”
The Labor minister Lily D’Ambrosio urged anyone with information to contact police.
“We’ve had two families’ lives pulled under,” she said.
“These are horrendous, despicable crimes.”
“Too many Victorians have been victims of crime,” the Victorian opposition leader, Brad Battin, said in a statement.
“Last night, two more Victorians were tragically added to that tally.”
– with Australian Associated Press
