Melbourne has once again been shaken by a violent late-night incident — this time in the heart of its bustling Southbank precinct, where a father and son were stabbed in the early hours of Sunday morning. Five teenagers, some reportedly as young as 14, have been arrested in connection with the attack, which has sparked renewed concern about youth violence and street safety in Victoria’s capital.
Police said the stabbing occurred just before 2 a.m. near the Yarra Promenade, a popular riverside walkway lined with restaurants and nightspots. According to investigators, the 47-year-old father and his 23-year-old son were walking with other family members when a group of teenagers passed by and allegedly bumped into one of them. What began as a brief verbal altercation quickly escalated into violence.
Witnesses reported seeing the group of teens shouting and pushing before knives were drawn. Both victims were stabbed during the altercation — the father suffering wounds to his torso and the son to his upper body. Emergency services arrived within minutes, treating the pair before transporting them to hospital. Fortunately, police confirmed their injuries are not life-threatening.
Detectives from the Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit arrested five teenagers — aged between 14 and 17 — shortly after the attack. The suspects were found nearby following an intensive search assisted by the Dog Squad and CCTV monitoring. Police said the teens remain in custody and will be questioned throughout the day, though no charges have yet been laid.
Chief Inspector Aaron Wunderlich described the assault as “a senseless act of violence in one of Melbourne’s busiest precincts,” adding that the area was “crowded with families and tourists at the time.” He urged witnesses and anyone with video footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
This latest incident adds to a troubling pattern of youth-related assaults in Melbourne’s nightlife districts. Over the past year, Victoria Police have reported a rise in violent behaviour among juveniles, with several cases involving knives. Authorities are calling for stronger parental accountability and better education on the dangers of carrying weapons.
Local residents have expressed alarm that teenagers continue to roam city streets late at night in groups, often with little supervision. “It’s becoming far too common,” said one witness, who described the scene as “chaotic and frightening.”
As investigators continue to piece together what led to the attack, the Southbank stabbing underscores a broader social issue — a growing sense of lawlessness and a disturbing normalization of violence among youth. For the victims, the scars may heal, but for Melbourne, the questions about safety and prevention remain painfully open.
