Boy, 16, granted bail after four teens charged over ambush on Melbourne street

A 16-year-old boy who police allege was on bail when he took part in a brazen daylight attack on two males on an inner-city street in Melbourne on Monday has again been released into the community after he and three others were charged over the violent brawl.

Shocking vision showed a balaclava-clad group hanging out of the sunroof of a car as it drove down Bay Street in Port Melbourne around school pick-up time on Monday.

The group jumped out of the car wielding weapons, including a machete and metal poles, and chased two youths down Lalor Street, where they unleashed a brutal bashing, police allege.

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The offenders fled the scene in the Haval, which police was detected travelling on the Westgate Freeway towards Melbourne about 12.20am today, sparking a pursuit and dramatic arrest.

The four youths were interviewed by detectives and charged.

A 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl were both charged with theft of motor vehicle and affray.

A 16-year-old boy was charged with theft of a motor vehicle, aggravated carjacking, burglary and affray.

A 16-year-old boy was charged with theft of motor vehicle and committing an indictable offence whilst on bail.

He was bailed to appear at a later date.

Neither of the alleged victims have reported the incident to police.

AirWing vision captures dramatic arrest

Witnesses said the group fled the area in a white Haval SUV on Monday afternoon, which was later spotted at Junction Oval in St Kilda.

It was detected travelling on the Westgate Freeway toward Melbourne about 12.20am today, police said.

Police AirWing vision shows the Haval coming to a stop in a car park on Shepparson Avenue in Carnegie, where one of the occupants got out and was arrested.

Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) police tried to intercept the vehicle, but it allegedly attempted to flee.

The footage then shows the Haval boxed in by several CIRT vehicles, before one of the occupants was dragged out of the car and surrounded by police.

The boy as well as two other occupants, were taken into custody.

A search of the vehicle uncovered several hatchets, a sledgehammer and a steel pole.

The CIRT vehicles sustained minor damage during the arrest.

Police believe the SUV was stolen from outside a gym in Clyde North on April 18.

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'Like a scene from Syria'

Witnesses said the group violently attacked the pair with a pole and a machete.

"It was a ruckus ... there was screaming," resident Hilary told 9News.

"I left South Africa to not go through the violence and the crime I witnessed ... I moved to the UK, I witnessed the same thing and now it's right outside my front door in Australia."

A tradie tried to intervene by throwing bricks and a sledgehammer at the fray, smashing the sunroof of the stolen car.

But he said one of the thugs took the tool and used it as a weapon.

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Families say they were cowering inside their homes in fear as the violent scenes took place on their doorstep.

"My daughter was traumatised," Hilary said.

"We need boots on the ground. We need heavier police presence."

3AW's Ross Stevenson said he has "never seen" an incident like this in Melbourne.

"It looks like a scene from Syria," he said of the footage.

The beaten, bloody victim tried to hide in George Tsingos' store.

"Young bloke came in saying 'please, please, they're chasing me, hide me," Tsingos said.

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"I said 'get out of the shop, get out! I'm calling the police'.

"Lock them up, throw away the key. They're not punished hard enough, Do we look at the laws? Ms Allan?"

The group, including the targets of the attack, left the scene before police arrived.

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"No victims have come forward to report the incident to police," a spokesperson for Victoria Police said.

"There were no reports of weapons involved."

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