Man accused of stabbing five strangers in Melbourne may face more charges

Police have urged a magistrate not to release a man who stabbed five strangers in a "calculated and malicious" series of attacks in Melbourne, as prosecutors consider more serious charges.

Christopher Raftopoulos, 31, applied for bail on Wednesday after being charged with 15 offences including intentionally causing injury in circumstances of gross violence.

He is alleged to have stabbed five random people who all ended up in hospital, some with life-threatening wounds, over three hours in the CBD and St Kilda between January 6 and 7.

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Raftopoulos was on bail at the time.

Victoria Police and the Office of Public Prosecutions opposed his release.

"He presents a realistic risk of causing serious harm, including fatal harm, to people in the community," OPP barrister Esther James told Melbourne Magistrates Court.

She said several of Raftopoulos' alleged victims were still undergoing treatment for their injuries, almost two months later, and the prosecution was considering whether his charges should be upgraded.

"The injuries of some of those victims will need to be the subject of forensic medical examination to consider whether the charges are appropriate or whether they need to be increased to more serious charges," James said.

Senior Constable Roland Stagg alleged Raftopoulos went into Melbourne CBD on January 6 "prepared to commit malicious acts of violence against any members of the public".

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He claimed Raftopoulos armed himself with a 20cm chef's knife and a backpack full of clothing to avoid detection.

"He's an unacceptable risk of endangering the safety and welfare of any person," he said.

"Police strongly believe, should he be granted bail, he poses serious risk to any member of the public at any time."

Senior Constable Stagg detailed Raftopoulos' criminal history, including outstanding police matters involving assault, family violence, drug, theft and criminal damage offences.

This included allegedly threatening and punching a man at Footscray train station in February 2021, where the victim was hit in the head and face.

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Raftopoulos' lawyer Richard Revill said his client was homeless and mentally unwell at the time of the alleged offending.

He said Raftopoulos was now "feeling much better" after being prescribed antipsychotics while housed at a high-security mental health hospital.

Magistrate Andrew Sim asked Mr Revill to gather more evidence to prove why his client should be released on bail as the risk factors were significant.

The bail hearing will continue next week, when Sim will hand down his decision.