Five people detained after brawl at Melbourne shopping centre — ABC News Australia
Four girls aged 12, 14, 16 and 17, as well as an 18-year-old woman, were detained after a brawl at the Northland shopping centre in Melbourne, Australia. The altercation occurred on Friday evening in the food court of the shopping centre in Preston.
As ABC News reports, Victoria Police patrol officers saw a group of girls fighting in the food court. All five were taken into custody.
Injuries and seized knife
A 14-year-old girl sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital. Another participant, a 12-year-old girl, also sustained minor injuries and was treated by ambulance paramedics. She was released, while police continue to establish the circumstances of the incident.
According to Victoria Police, officers from Operation Pulse seized a knife that was allegedly displayed during the brawl. Detectives from the Banyule Criminal Investigation Unit will investigate the circumstances of the incident.
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Possible charges
The 18-year-old Coburg North resident, as well as the 16- and 17-year-old girls, were interviewed. They are expected to be charged on summons.
The brawl followed other violent incidents at Melbourne shopping centres. In May 2025, a fight involving 10 people with machetes occurred in the Northland food court, during which one man sustained serious injuries. At the time, police believed the attack had taken place between two rival groups and was motivated by revenge.
According to the Crime Statistics Agency, 5,901 crimes were recorded at 13 major Melbourne shopping centres in the 2024–2025 financial year, 20% more than a year earlier. The highest number of incidents was recorded at Bayside Frankston, while Northland ranked second.
