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 attacked by up to eight masked suspects armed with machetes and long-edged weapons.
Detective Inspector Graham Banks said police are searching for the attackers, who are believed to be older than the victims and members of a youth gang, though no specific gang has 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, stating that the community has buried four children in the past month. Friend of the family Aboil Alor called for justice, saying the boys did not deserve to die.
Banks described the crime as one of the most horrific in a growing list of similar incidents and vowed to dedicate all resources to the investigation, aiming to make arrests in the coming days. He also called on the state government to increase sentences for youth criminals, arguing that current penalties are not in balance with community expectations.
Victorian opposition leader Brad Battin said too many Victorians have been victims of crime, while Labor minister Lily D'Ambrosio urged anyone with information to contact police.
