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Machetes, a meat cleaver and a carving knife were among weapons seized from a gang of teenage boys in the CBD on the first night of the annual Moomba Festival.
Police said they had “likely prevented serious violence” on Thursday evening after security raised the alarm about an armed youth in the festival area around 9.15pm.
Police from the public order response team tracked a group of eight teenage boys to the Southbank area, where they were searched for weapons.
“On the first night of the 2026 Moomba Festival, police have likely prevented serious violence by arresting multiple armed offenders near St Kilda Road,” police said in a statement.
“It is alleged during the search officers seized two machetes, a meat cleaver, a long carving knife, flick knives, a knuckle duster, balaclavas and gloves, and drugs.”
Two boys, aged 16 and 17, were interviewed and will be charged at a later date.
Another 16-year-old boy was charged with possessing a prohibited and controlled weapon. He remains in custody and will appear in the children’s court at a later date.
It’s not the first time violence has disrupted the family festival.
A fight between two groups of youths marred Saturday night festivities at last year’s event. Police were also called in to control gangs of rioters in 2016 and 2017.
In 2017, police made 65 arrests during the festival, and used capsicum spray to disperse brawling youths who were armed with knives, a taser and a knuckle duster.
A year earlier, police arrested 24 people allegedly involved in the riot that caused hundreds of bystanders to cower in fear inside restaurants and flee in panic. Of those charged, 20 were children, some as young as 14.
The Moomba Festival is held annually in central Melbourne.
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