Machetes, meat cleaver, carving knife among other weapons recovered as cops claim to avert ‘serious violence’ during Melbourne’s Moomba Festival; 8 teens arrested
Security guards informed the police after a young man with a knife wandered around the festival at around 21.15. Ten minutes after the warning, authorities found a group of eight teenagers in the Southbank area. They were arrested a short time later near St Kilda Road.
Police found many sharp weapons
According to 9News, police claimed to have found several sharp weapons while searching the arrested men, including two machetes, a meat cleaver, a carving knife and light knives. During the search, joint powders, ski masks, gloves and drugs were also found.
Two young people were detained
After the weapons were found, two young people aged 16 and 17 were detained by the police and interrogated. They will reportedly be charged at a later date.
A 16-year-old boy was charged with possession of a prohibited and controlled weapon, 9News reported. The detained person will later be referred to the courthouse.
Melbourne Moomba FestivalAs quoted on the City of Melbourne website, “The iconic Moomba Festival welcomes people to the city each year on the Labor Day long weekend in March to experience the traditions and fun of Melbourne’s longest-running and largest community festival.”
The Melbourne City Tour website states that the Moomba Festival is Australia’s largest free event. The four-day festival is located on the Yarra River in the center of the city and is held to celebrate the liveliness of the city.
