Latest news with #machetes
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Thugs from rival London gangs who brought terror to seaside town with machetes and handgun jailed for total of 34 years - as shocking footage reveals chaos
Children were grabbed by parents and dragged to safety as two rival gangs brandishing machetes and a handgun brought violence to the streets of a seaside town, a court heard today. Families, some in swimwear, scattered in fear as the youths from east London clashed in bloody scenes and at least one shot was fired in Southend, Essex. Shocking footage from CCTV and onlookers' mobile phones seen in court showed the gang members and their friends – some of whom were children themselves, with one aged just 14 at the time – chasing each other through busy streets in broad daylight. Two of the thugs ended up in hospital, one with serious injuries, although both survived to appear in court for sentencing this week. All ten defendants admitted a range of offences including violent disorder and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm. Jailing all but one of them, with sentences of up to eight years, Judge Samantha Cohen said they were responsible for a 'wholly organised, deliberate, gang related incident of serious violent disorder'. She added: 'It was the middle of the summer holidays and Southend was full of families enjoying the summer weather. 'They were not aware that there was a group on their way to Southend to meet another group. 'The calm of the afternoon was broken… There was what can only be described as a running battle in Southend.' Basildon Crown Court heard how people connected to the Northside Newham gang – referred to as Group One – headed to the popular resort after learning that individuals associated with the Southside Newham gang, or Group Two, were going there on July 30 last year. Prosecutor Gregory Wedge said: 'Both groups arrived by train in Southend. 'Group One arrives first at Prittlewell train station. Group Two seem to walk down together as part of an intimidating group down the high street towards the Halifax. 'Group One arrive at the high street, near the Halifax, and the first 999 calls are made at 6.52pm. 'There are reports of males running around with machetes as long as your arm. 'People start making 999 calls, shouting 'Someone has been stabbed'.' In chaotic scenes, innocent bystanders ran away as the youths wielded their knives. Outside the Dickens Pub, drinkers realised what was happening and ran inside to safety. In other footage, a youngster from Southside pointed the firearm at rival gang members and let off at least one shot, leaving smoke curling from the muzzle. The Ekol Viper starter pistol had been converted to fire live rounds. The Southside gang ended up running into a children's playpark where they regrouped and took stock next to a mural. Small children on the equipment fled with their parents who spotted Northside members approaching with their machetes out. A further clash occurred at 7.20pm on Marine Parade at the seafront in front of people in beachwear, as both groups faced off against each other again. The confrontation ended when Northside member Lucas Braga, now 18, and a boy who cannot be named as he is still only 17, were seen clashing with each other on a busy street which had bunting fluttering overhead. The general melee meant it was not clear if they ended up stabbing each other or were stabbed by someone else but both were injured. Gruesome footage showed Braga's T-shirt turning red from a wound to his lower back – yet shortly afterwards he was spotted smiling and high-fiving fellow gang members in 'celebration' of the clash. When police arrived, an ambulance wasn't available, so they took Braga to hospital themselves. The other boy, who had a 'significant' injury to his chest, was airlifted to hospital after a brave local woman let him into her house and administered first aid. A total of ten people were arrested and mobile phones were seized from them. Police were only able to access Southside phones and found information on Snapchat 'detailing ongoing tensions', Mr Wedge told the court. The gun-wielding youth, who was 16 at the time, suggested bringing bags to conceal knives his friends were bringing. Family and friends of the defendants filled the public gallery during the two-day hearing, despite all but three of the youths appearing by videolink from prison. Two of those that did appear, who were from rival gangs, ended up fighting in the dock today despite the presence of security staff and had to be separated by police. One woman sat with her hand over her mouth with her partner holding onto her as they listened to the evidence. The court heard from Marc Miller, the managing director of Adventure Island, an amusement park on the seafront, who said: 'It's disgusting behaviour in what is predominately an environment for families and children. 'We need to reassure the public that Adventure Island is a safe place for people to come. The people on the video seem to have a total disregard for the place they're in.' Holidaymakers had cancelled trip to the park and young staff stopped coming to work because their parents feared for their safety, he added. 'This incident has tainted Southend and the businesses here,' Mr Miller said. Nick Singer, who runs 18 businesses in the area including a bowling alley, revealed business had plummeted in the wake of the violence. His ten-year-old daughter had also wept with fear and begged him not to go to work 'because she was worried something would happen to me'. 'The next day, no one came to Southend. It was a ghost town – it was like there was tumble weed,' he said. 'There's been a 55 per cent reduction in turnover since the incident.' Southside affiliate Michael King, 18, of South Woodford, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years. Another associate, Mekai Brown, 19, of Woodford Green, received eight years. Both pleaded guilty to violent disorder and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm. The teenager who carried the gun, who is now 17, was given six years and 11 months for possession of a firearm with intent to cause violence, violent disorder and possession of a bladed article. The youngest member, who is now 15, received an 18-month detention and training order. Of two other 17-year-olds connected to Southside, one received a 20-month detention and training order and the other will appear at youth court for a referral order. Northside members Isaac Bello, 18, of Woodford Green, and Braga, 18, of Stratford, both received two-year jail terms. Fellow Northsiders Hamza Dinbil, also 18 and from Stratford, was jailed for 22 months and Tyler Omo-Irogho, 19, of Watford, received three years and three months. All four admitted violent disorder and possession of a bladed article. The judge said she was satisfied the Northside group hadn't been ambushed and were prepared for the clash 'based on the speed with which you employed your weapons and the fact you walked towards them once you were aware they were in town' Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe – who revealed two suspects were still being sought – said afterwards: 'I hope their sentencing sends a clear message to anyone thinking of bringing violence to our streets.'
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Teen, 19, fighting for his life after falling from balcony while fleeing police
A teenager is fighting for his life in hospital after falling from a balcony while fleeing police. The 19-year-old suffered critical injuries after falling off an 'upper balcony from height' in Tameside last night, said GMP. A 14-year-old boy was also seriously injured in the same fall. It came after police were called to reports of a 'group of males with machetes making threats towards individuals' at a flat on Bentinck Street, Ashton at 7.20pm on Saturday. When officers arrived three males 'tried to leave' the property, with the third escaping through a lower balcony. READ MORE: BBC Race Across the World star, 24, dies after Stockport car crash READ MORE: A Bee Network bus pulls into traffic and, for some, that is very bad news Footage from the scene shows emergency services at the foot of Bentinck House, a 12 storey tower block on the outskirts of Ashton town centre. Three people have been arrested. Drugs and a weapon have also been seized. Witnesses reported seeing armed police and an air ambulance at the scene. Det Supt Gareth Jenkins from the Tameside District said: "The two injured parties, aged 14 and 19, have been taken to hospital for treatment of serious injuries, with the older male in a critical condition. These males are under the detention of officers pending their medical treatment, and another male has been arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of drugs. 'Enquiries are ongoing to determine all of those involved and the full circumstances of what has happened in the lead up to the incident. Suspected drugs and a weapon have been recovered. A small scene remains in place at the property and residents in the area should expect to see further police activity. "Anyone with any information which has not yet been provided to us, or with any concerns, should speak to officers on the ground. I'd like to reassure the community that this incident is believed to be between individuals known to one another, with no wider risk to the community." Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting log 2849 of May 31 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
ABC News
27-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
Seven males arrested and charged over alleged planned gang fight at Northland shopping centre in Melbourne
Police have arrested and charged a total of seven people involved in an allegedly planned gang fight with machetes at Northland Shopping Centre in Melbourne's north on Sunday. Detectives say they initially believed eight people were involved in the incident that broke out just after 2:30pm on Sunday at the Preston centre's food court, but have since clarified that seven people were involved. "Police will allege this was a planned fight between two rival youth gangs, with thankfully no innocent bystanders hurt," a police statement said. "Those arrested were all known gang members and known to police." Frightened shoppers fled Northland during the incident amid instructions to evacuate. Security camera footage indicates the incident lasted for approximately 2 minutes, with around 40 local police and specialist units, including the Public Order Response Team and Critical Incident Response Team arriving within minutes, police said. Since the incident, the state government has fast-tracked a ban on the sale of machetes, which takes effect from midday on Wednesday. Two teenage males — aged 15 and 16 — who police allege to be the primary offenders, were arrested at the scene. The pair have been charged with affray, intentionally causing injury, possessing a controlled weapon and using a controlled weapon. They are in custody and have faced a children's court. Two men — an 18-year-old from Bundoora and a 20-year-old from Thornbury — were arrested on Tuesday and will both face Heidleberg Magistrates' Court on July 15 charged with affray and intentionally causing injury. An 18-year-old Thornhill Park man was arrested on Tuesday night, charged with affray and weapons offences and is scheduled to face Heidelberg Magistrates' Court today. Two other young males were arrested on Wednesday morning: an 18-year-old from Derrimut charged with affray and intentionally causing injury, and a 21-year-old from Kew who was treated in hospital for non-life-threatening head injuries from the incident. The Kew man was charged with affray, intentionally causing injury and committing an indictable offence while on bail. Police said officers would be patrolling the Northland shopping centre area over the coming days and weekends and that local police would work with the centre's management and retail staff to reassure them. "Victoria Police continues to relentlessly pursue, disrupt and dismantle the state's worst youth gangs as part of Operation Alliance," police said. Police say in the past year, Operation Alliance has led to the arrest of 473 youth gang members a combined 1,731 times, with more than 4,400 charges laid in relation to these matters.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
Chaotic scenes: boys charged over shopping centre brawl
Shoppers have been left terrified by a violent brawl between rival gang members armed with machetes, forcing the lockdown of a busy shopping centre. Two boys, aged 15 and 16, have been charged, while another male, 20, was rushed to hospital following the brawl about 2.30pm at Northland Shopping Centre in Melbourne's north. The teenagers were charged with affray, intentionally cause injury, possess controlled weapon and use controlled weapon and have been remanded to appear in a children's court at a later date. Superintendent Kelly Lawson confirmed the attack was not random, saying rival gangs had arranged a meeting at the centre's food court before the fight erupted. "It is said to have been an act of retaliation," she said. Police believe about 10 people were involved, some armed with knives. There were no firearms involved. "It was a chaotic scene," Supt Lawson added. "It's really frightening for members of the public to go through this." The centre was locked down during the incident as dozens of police officers responded and shoppers shared updates on social media. The man taken to hospital is in a stable condition. Two other males have since self-presented to hospital with injuries. Supt Lawson said it would not take long to identify all the gang members involved.
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Read the panic-stricken texts from inside Northland Shopping Centre when all hell broke loose in machete gang brawl
Panicked messages have emerged from terrified customers inside a busy shopping centre moments after it was plunged into lockdown. Police swarmed Northland Shopping Centre in Melbourne 's north on Sunday afternoon after a brawl in an outdoor food court broke out between two rival groups of up to 10 males, some allegedly armed with machetes. Terrified shoppers were forced to run for their lives from the centre as others sought refuge in shuttered stores, including Kmart, Myer and Smiggle. 3AW journalist Jacqueline Felgate shared a series of frantic messages received from those inside locked inside stores. 'A gang of people with machetes at Northland! We are locked in the back of a store,' one wrote. 'No update from centre management if they are still here or not. Unsure if anyone is hurt. 'We are safe where we are. Currently in a locked store room with four other people. 'Unsure about anyone else in the centre at this point.' Messages from those inside the shopping centre showed customers were frightened and confused Another wrote: 'There are people running around Northland with knives. All stores' shutters are down, my mum is in Best and Less. Scary! 'Not sure of what's happening but hope it's not another Bondi situation.' Another shopper described scenes of 'lots of commotion and panic and people running'. 'Police have arrived and are telling everyone to stay inside,' they told Felgate. 'There are mentions of someone with a knife. 'We were at the hairdresser and just sat down to give my one-year-old a haircut, it is terrifying.' Others commended the swift response from retail staff to keep shoppers safe amid the terrifying chaos. 'There was confusion and little communication from centre management at the time of the initial incident however a huge shout out to the retailers for ensuring all customers were ushered safely into their stores, out of harms way,' they wrote. 'This was done with little panic and very orderly. 'Despite this experience being quite surreal and eerie I must commend the young retail staff for stepping up.' Footage has also emerged of locked down shoppers, including young families fleeing the shopping centre in droves after they were given the all clear to leave. Two males, including a 15-year-old boy, have since been arrested while a man aged in his 20s suffering upper body injuries was rushed to Royal Melbourne Hospital in a serious but stable condition. Victoria Police Superintendent Kelly Lawson said the incident is believed to be 'retaliation' between 'two rival gangs'. 'I want to … reassure the community that this was not just some random thing that happened; it was a pre-organised gang meet-up where that affray has taken place,' she said. 'It would have been absolutely frightening to witness what [the public] saw today, on a Sunday afternoon. 'Parents, with their children … absolutely frightening.' Investigators believed an incident on Saturday triggered the shopping centre 'meet-up' between the two gangs, who were already on the 'radar' of police. One customer Jason, told Daily Mail Australia he had been shopping when 'people started running and all the shops locked their doors'. 'We stayed inside Kmart for about an hour before they finally let everyone leave.' Other frightened shoppers took to social media to recount their experience. 'The world is mad. Just got home from Northland! Was locked in a store room in Myer, staff were fantastic. Still shaken. Hope injured will be okay,' one wrote. Another added: 'Some guys with machetes apparently. We just arrived and everyone was running out telling us to run,' one said. A third reported: 'My daughter is currently locked in Smiggle and called me saying someone running around with knives. A fourth added: 'My friends are in a shop calming the staff down. They heard all the shouting and went into the nearest shop and got the staff to lock the doors.' Shoppers in locked stores recalled seeing 'traumatising' scenes when they were finally able to leave the centre. 'By the time we got out it was all police taped, there was paper towel covered in blood all over the floor, there were (paramedics), helicopters and about 70 police officers,' one woman wrote. 'As we were walking out there was a young guy in handcuffs. Fair to say my kids are a little traumatised!' Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV, dashcam footage or any other information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
