Police have used pepper spray to subdue youths at Melbourne's Moomba Festival, and have seized knives, a taser, scissors and knuckle-duster over the past two days.
Fifty-three people were arrested over Friday and yesterday, as police worked to ensure the safety and security of festival attendees.
“All of a sudden we heard chanting and there was hundreds of kids walking down the street,” a witness said.
“It was just like a stampede of people.”
The CBD and festival site were declared designated areas for weapons searches, and more than 800 searches were conducted.
Of the 53 arrests, 14 were for drunkenness, nine for weapons-related offences, five for riotous behaviour and four for assaulting police.
Two police were treated for minor injuries during the operation – one for grazes after tripping and the other for a wrist injury.
“It’s disturbing… these young people think that they can use the CBD and festivals as a playground,” Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Andrew Crisp said during a press conference.
“This sort of behaviour is totally unacceptable.”
Dep. Comm. Crisp said about 100 youths, mostly young men, came into the CBD specifically to fight and to try to gain notoriety among their peers for their behaviour.
Sudanese community groups, including faith-based Planet Shakers, worked with police to get some youths out of the CBD, he said.
The State Government said boosting frontline officers last night had “minimised the damage.”
“Victoria Police was very well prepared, they had resources and additional resources were being prepared,” Police Minister Lisa Neville said.
This year’s Moomba Festival concludes tomorrow night.