BREAKING: Two men are dead following separate stabbing incidents in Melbourne, with officials heightening alerts over escalating knife crime. The first attack occurred around 9:45 PM on Monday at an apartment block in Fitzroy, where police discovered a man suffering from severe stab wounds. He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival. The victim has not yet been identified.
In a separate incident just hours earlier, at approximately 3:30 PM, another man was stabbed during an altercation at a property in Clyde. Authorities report that he fled the scene in a vehicle, which later crashed on Clyde-Five Ways Road. The man was airlifted to the hospital with life-threatening injuries but was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. A 27-year-old man has been arrested in connection with this stabbing.
The recent violence has intensified concerns over knife crime in Victoria. Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush acknowledged the growing anxiety within the community, stating, “I am acutely aware of how much concern knife crime generates in the Victorian community.” He revealed that over 15,000 knives, including machetes and zombie knives, have been confiscated and destroyed this year alone.
The rise in knife-related incidents is alarming, with statistics showing that machete incidents tripled between 2021 and 2024. Young males are implicated in roughly 40% of these cases, prompting calls for immediate action and heightened security measures.
In response to the escalating crisis, a machete amnesty program concluded on November 30, resulting in approximately 25,000 weapons being voluntarily surrendered by the public. Despite these efforts, the community remains on edge, grappling with the implications of these violent acts.
As investigations continue, homicide squad detectives are expected to arrive at the Fitzroy scene later today. The police urge anyone with information related to these incidents to come forward as they work tirelessly to address this urgent situation.
Stay tuned for more updates as this developing story unfolds.
