Two boys, aged 12 and 15, were fatally stabbed in Cobblebank, Melbourne, on Saturday night in an attack that police say bears the hallmarks of youth gang crime. The victims, including 15-year-old Dau Akueng, were found on separate streets after being set upon by up to eight masked attackers armed with machetes and long-edged weapons.
Detective Inspector Graham Banks stated that the attackers, believed to be older than the victims, covered their faces and are suspected members of a youth gang, though the specific group has not been identified. Banks noted that the 12-year-old was unlikely to have been a gang member due to his age, and the attack may have been a case of mistaken identity.
The father of one victim, Elbino Akueng, said his son and friends were attacked while walking home from a basketball game. He expressed frustration at the lack of answers from police, noting that the community has buried four children in the past month. An emotional family friend, Aboil Alor, called for justice, saying the boys did not deserve to die.
Police are searching for the attackers and have pledged to devote all resources to the investigation. Banks described the crime as one of the most horrific in a growing list of similar incidents and called on the state government to increase sentences for youth criminals, stating that current penalties are not in line with community expectations.
Victorian opposition leader Brad Battin said in a statement that too many Victorians have been victims of crime, while Labor minister Lily D'Ambrosio urged anyone with information to come forward.
