Boy allegedly holding machete during dramatic Melbourne arrest as police crackdown on nightclub fires
Updated . First published at
A 17-year-old boy allegedly had a machete on him when he was arrested in the middle of a Melbourne shopping centre.
The boy was one of three people arrested in the city's west yesterday in connection with a series of alleged arsons and attempted arsons that have hit Melbourne's hospitality venues.
Police allege the trio went to three venues in Melbourne in the early hours of May 4 and May 5.
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A machete was allegedly found alongside a boy who was arrested in a Melbourne shopping centre yesterday. 3AW Melbourne
One man from Tarneit, 18, was arrested at a home yesterday morning, before an 18-year-old man and 17-year-old boy were arrested at Highpoint Shopping Centre in Maribyrong.
Images of the arrest show a machete near one of the people being arrested, which police allege was in the possession of the 17-year-old at the time of his arrest.
The trio have now been charged with multiple offences, including aggravated burglary, criminal damage by fire, and possession of cannabis.
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Victoria Police are trying to crack down on a series of arson attacks on Melbourne hospitality venues. Nine
The two men remain in custody and will appear before Melbourne Magistrates Court today.
The 17-year-old boy faced an out-of-sessions court hearing last night, where police opposed bail.
It comes as police look to halt a series of arson attacks on hospitality venues across Melbourne.
It is believed they are connected to the sale and trade of illicit alcohol, which is now booming in Victoria.
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