Violent gatecrashers target birthday party at Melbourne church hall

A church hall has been damaged and a police officer injured after gatecrashers caused chaos at a teenager's birthday party in Melbourne's north.

Police said St Matthews Anglican Church in Glenroy was targeted by gatecrashers just after 10pm yesterday.

Nearby residents called Triple Zero as the gathering descended into chaos, with teenagers fighting in the street as windows and doors of the hall were torn apart.

“They were shouting and screaming… I was scared so much,” a local told 9NEWS.

Responding police were targeted by some of the intruders, who threw objects at officers.

The gatecrashers then fled the scene before being pulled over by police nearby on Melbourne Avenue.

One of the group members then allegedly assaulted a sergeant, leading to the offender injuring his hand.

Reverend Joanna Wells of St Matthews Anglican Church said the motive of the vandals was unknown.

“I can’t understand what moves people to be so reckless,” Reverend Wells said.

“We don’t want to let one incident by a group of people who were hell-bent on doing this destroy the good (the hall) gives to so many others,” she said.

Party host Leonard Andou, 15, said his birthday was “ruined” by the intruders.

“We just wanted to have a good time,” Leonard said.

“Gatecrashers came and ruined it.”