Shocking images show the full extent of the damage to a Melbourne AirBnB after an ‘African’ gang gatecrashed a party at the property.
Police were called to the home in Attunga Grove at Werribee about 3.30am on Wednesday after reports that two women were being assaulted.
But officers were forced to retreat when partygoers began throwing rocks.
Images taken from inside the home show pepper spray on the walls where police were forced to stop and out-of-control party
Photos taken from inside the house show walls kicked and punched in, mattresses thrown on top of furniture and pepper spray splattered across bedroom curtains
Police were called to the home at Attunga Grove in Werribee at 3.30am on Wednesday but were forced to retreat when partygoers began throwing rocks at them (aftermath pictured)
Heavily armed riot police battled rock-throwing youths in a Melbourne street after a party at a rented AirBnB house got out of control
Photos taken from inside the house show walls kicked and punched in, mattresses thrown on top of furniture and pepper spray splattered across bedroom curtains.
Neighbours say they were left terrified when up to 40 youths from the house started roaming the streets, throwing rocks and smashing cars.
‘It was terrifying … I grabbed my young daughter and went to the back room so that way, if they got in, we’d be harder to get to,’ neighbour Kristy said.
She was woken by noises at the house about 1am and rang police twice.
‘They were looking for trouble,’ she said of the youths.
Kristy says the horde arrived at the party house by car, taxi and even bus.
Shocking images show the full extent of the damage to a Melbourne AirBnB after an ‘African’ gang gatecrashed a party at the property
Rocks were thrown at officers and cars at an out-of-control Melbourne party overnight
Local resident Rob told 3AW the aftermath from the party looked like a ‘warzone’
‘As soon as they started throwing rocks at the police they thought they could do anything and it started getting worse,’ she said.
Both women were critical of the police response, after officers had been called to the address the night before.
‘They knew there were issues the night before; why would they only send two police officers to start with?’ Kristy asked.
Local resident Rob told 3AW the aftermath from the party looked like a ‘warzone’.
Werribee father Jeremy received a call from his daughter who was at home by herself when the party got out of control.
Jeremy arrived just after rocks were thrown for a window so grabbed a baseball bat to protect his daughter.
The Public Order Response Team and the heavily armed Critical Incident Response Team were then called in to break up the party
Officers were pelted with rocks while trying to break up the out-of-control party
Police said once they realised the extent of the situation heavily armed riot squad officers and crowd controllers were called.
Wyndham police Inspector Marty Allison said police pushed the group away from the house but did not make any arrests.
‘This behaviour is completely unacceptable,’ he told reporters at the scene on Wednesday.
No one was arrested at the scene, but police are investigating criminal damage to the home
Werribee father Jeremy received a call from his daughter who was at home by herself when the party got out of control
‘The message we need to get out to the community and particularly the people who behaved so appallingly is that they’ll be held accountable.’
He confirmed African youths had been involved and that the rented house sustained severe damage to walls, roof and furniture.
The house was listed for rent with the warning ‘no parties’, but footage of the three-bedroom property after the event shows fluid strewn around and holes punched in walls.
The home owner leased the house to two women, Insp Allison said.
He urged people who rent properties online to be vigilant and confirm identities.
AirBnB has been contacted for comment.