BREAKING: A community in Cobblebank, Melbourne is engulfed in fear following the brutal double murder of two youths, Dau Akueng, 15, and a 12-year-old boy, late Saturday evening. The victims were attacked while returning from a local basketball match, and the alleged offenders remain at large, prompting a police manhunt.
Authorities have labeled the incident as potentially linked to youth gang activity, with Detective Inspector Graham Banks stating that the attack bore the “hallmarks of a youth gang crime.” The police are investigating whether the attack was a targeted act or a case of mistaken identity. “The children who were murdered were not gang members and it is not OK to remain silent,” Banks urged during a press conference on Sunday.
Witnesses describe a chaotic scene as a group of masked individuals armed with machetes and long blades carried out the horrific attack. Eyewitness accounts and CCTV footage indicate that the assault occurred just before 8:00 PM. Local resident Christopher McFarlane reported discovering one of the victims’ bodies after hearing disturbing noises outside his home. He recounted seeing eight individuals flee in a large vehicle, leaving the neighborhood in shock.
The emotional toll on the community is palpable. Local mother Jatinder Kaur expressed her children’s fear, stating, “It’s too scary for them.” The chilling atmosphere is compounded by a recent spike in youth crime, with statistics showing an alarming 17.9 percent increase in crimes committed by children aged 10 to 17 in the last year—the highest rates recorded since data collection began in 1993.
Residents are rallying for safety measures and justice as they grapple with the aftermath. McFarlane voiced his concerns, “This is such a safe area, but now that’s all gone. Everyone’s just devastated and shocked.” The community’s unease is further heightened by the recent implementation of Victoria’s machete ban, which began on September 1, encouraging residents to dispose of weapons in designated bins at local police stations.
Police are urgently appealing for witnesses to come forward, particularly anyone with dashcam footage from the area around Cobble St. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are determined to bring those responsible to justice.
As the community awaits further updates, the call for action and support grows louder. Residents are demanding answers and a renewed commitment to safety in their neighborhood. The tragic loss of these young lives has struck a chord, igniting a wave of fear and grief that resonates throughout Cobblebank.
Stay tuned for more developments on this tragic story as authorities continue their investigation.
