Updated ,first published
A teenage boy has been hospitalised with serious injuries after being attacked by a group of youths after school in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs on Monday.
Police said three boys were walking home near Cranbourne North’s Alkira Secondary College at 3.20pm when they turned around and saw three hooded youths, aged between 16 and 20, charging at them with a “variety” of weapons including “knives” and “swords”.
Detective Inspector Mark Patrick said the three offenders, who remain on the run, let out a collective scream before attacking in Sabel Drive.
“It was similar to a war cry when you go into battle … it appeared to be to get [the victims’] attention to create fear,” he told a press conference.
Patrick said officers suspect the 15-year-old victim, a student of the college, was directly targeted. He suffered multiple injuries in the back, arms and hands and is currently undergoing surgery in an inner-city hospital.
Police were on Tuesday morning still searching for multiple people involved, after the group fled the scene on foot.
The offenders were not believed to be students from the school.
Police do not have a motive but confirmed they were investigating whether any of the offenders had links to known gangs.
Police have appealed to the community to review their CCTV footage and are calling on the attackers to hand themselves in to authorities.
“It’s frustrating for us to see continual knife-related assaults and offences and items, knives, are readily available. If you look at your kitchen drawer you pull out a knife,” Patrick said.
“There’s certainly a bit more numerous weapons there than anything that’s been surrendered.”
Ambulance Victoria’s Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance and Advanced Life Support paramedics treated the teenager on Monday.
An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said the boy was transported to hospital in a serious condition after sustaining injuries to his upper body.
Alkira Secondary College was on Tuesday providing wellbeing support to those involved in the incident.
An Education Department spokesperson said the assault occurred outside the school and after school hours.
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