Police have arrested a 15-year-old boy after a teenager was stabbed to death at a busy Melbourne shopping centre.
Emergency services were called to Woodgrove Shopping Centre, in Melton West, just before midday on Tuesday to reports a boy, 16, had been stabbed.
Paramedics performed CPR, but despite their best efforts, he died at the scene.
The 15-year-old boy was arrested later Tuesday after interviewed by the homicide squad.
It’s understood the arrested teen from Melton West knew the alleged victim. No ties to youth gangs in the western suburbs have been established.
‘It’s believed there may have been an altercation between the victim and another male,’ Victoria Police said.
‘The exact circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death are yet to be determined.’
The incident comes just days after a local issued a warning to shoppers about possible ‘gang’ issues at the shopping centre.
Police have arrested a 15-year-old boy from Melton West after a teenager was stabbed to death at a busy Melbourne shopping centre
Police are pictured at Woodgrove Shopping Centre on Tuesday
An entrance to the food court was closed in the wake of the tragedy
‘I’ve heard possible issues with gang problems this weekend at Woodgrove,’ the woman wrote on Facebook on Saturday.
‘Hopefully not true… Be aware of your surroundings.’
A woman who works in a shop within the centre told Daily Mail Australia she heard a group of young people ‘yelling and screaming’ as the attack unfolded.
Witness Steve told 3AW the centre was bustling with shoppers at the time of the attack.
‘There has to be 25 police cars and choppers in the sky,’ he said.
‘The food court where it happened is open and there’s people oblivious to it.’
The woman said she was shocked that authorities did not close the plaza in the wake of the incident.
‘All they did was close one entrance. That was it.’
Police tape was erected inside the building as officers worked the scene
Pictured: The major police operation at the centre on Tuesday
A police helicopter has been deployed in the area as detectives search for the knifeman.
The incident comes after the shopping centre was locked down earlier this year after a fight broke out between two groups of youths armed with machetes and a butcher’s knife.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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