Australia fast-tracks machete ban after shopping centre attack
A fight involving machetes at a Melbourne shopping centre has prompted an Australian state to fast-track the country's first-ever ban on the weapon's sale.
The ban - to start in Victoria this Wednesday, instead of September - comes after two gangs attacked each other at Northland shopping centre in Preston on Sunday afternoon. A man, 20, remains in hospital in a serious condition.
Victoria's premier said the ban will "choke the supply", adding "the community shouldn't have to deal with these weapons in their shopping centres - neither should our police".
Two boys, aged 16 and 15, were on Sunday charged with affray, intentionally causing injury, and possession and use of a controlled weapon.
On Monday, police said two men, aged 20 and 18, had also been arrested and were being interviewed. All four people were known to police previously.
"This was a planned fight between two rival youth gangs with no innocent bystanders hurt," said deputy commissioner David Clayton.
"Fortunately, these events are not very commonplace in Victoria," he said, adding that youth knife crime is "rare" but "frightening".
Clayton said one in 10 knife crimes in the state are committed by young people, and often happen in public places.
Emergency services were called to the shopping centre in Preston - about 11km (seven miles) north of Melbourne - just after 14:30 local time (05:30 BST) on Sunday after reports of up to 10 people fighting.
Police said the investigation "remains ongoing" and more arrests are expected. Three of the four machetes used during the attack have been seized, police said.
Victoria's Premier Jacinta Allan described the attack as "appalling".
"We must never let the places where we gather - where families come together, to meet, to shop, to enjoy the peace of their weekend - become the places we fear," Allan said at a press conference.
"It took the United Kingdom 18 months to bring about a ban on machetes and we are moving to do it within six months," she added.
In March, Victoria announced legislative changes to its Control of Weapons Act, making it illegal to sell or possess machetes, with the new law to start in September.
The ban covers machetes, which are broadly defined as "knives with a cutting blade longer than 20cm". It does not include knives primarily used in kitchens.
A three-month amnesty from September means anyone with a machete can place them in specially designated boxes at police stations.
Police also thanked a man who held down one of the alleged offenders until police arrived, saying he "performed an outstanding job", but added they don't encourage the public to become involved in such incidents.
In England and Wales, a ban on "zombie-style" knives and machetes was introduced last September, making it illegal to own, make, transport or sell a wide range of "statement" knives favoured by criminal gangs.
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