CRAIGIEBURN, VIC. — Police last night converged on a shopping centre in Craigieburn after several reports that shots were fired during an argument between men armed with machetes.
The Craigieburn Central Shopping Centre was placed into lockdown around 7:10pm yesterday.
Police understand that two groups of males, both armed with machetes, were seen arguing at the shopping centre and two gunshots were heard.
Victoria Police later said there were no reports of injuries and no evidence of a shooting.
“It is understood two groups of males were seen arguing at the location but fled prior to police arrival,” a police spokesperson told ABC Radio Melbourne.
Martin was at the centre with his six-year-old son.
He said he saw a group of males wearing masks just outside the food outlet where he was sitting.
He said some men approached the group and it looked like they were telling them to calm down when a second group of masked males arrived.
“They ran towards each other and then a shot was heard,” he told ABC Evenings with David Astle.
“As soon as the shot was fired … everybody pulled out massive machetes.
“They looked like swords; I’ve never seen such large machetes before.”
Martin said he immediately called the police while other shoppers fled.
He said there were mainly women and children inside the food outlet.
“Almost every single one of them were on the floor.
“I picked up my son, and I saw a lady with her four daughters. Roughly about five or six minutes later, when everything calmed down, they were too scared to leave.”
Haiqa Asif was at the shopping centre with her family and said there was “a real stampede” when people realised what was happening.
“At one point we heard a gunshot but we didn’t take it seriously because we thought we might be mistaken, but then we saw people outside running and grabbing their children and then we realised something was wrong,” she told ABC Radio Melbourne.
“We saw [what looked like] a couple of teenagers running with masks on and holding machetes and that was very terrifying.”
Police are investigating the incident.
Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
