A woman is fighting for life after she was one of four people knifed in three random attacks, with police chasing down and arresting a man over the stabbings in inner Melbourne overnight.
A 31-year-old Melton man was arrested after the separate stabbings, which occurred over a three-hour period.
A 24-year-old Melbourne man was stabbed in the leg at a King Street burger store about 10pm on Saturday, before a man and woman walking along Dandenong Road in St Kilda East were attacked shortly before 11pm.
The woman, a 31-year-old from St Kilda East, is fighting for life in hospital, while the man, a 31-year-old from Glen Waverley, was taken to hospital with a serious arm injury.
In a third incident, a 31-year-old English man was stabbed on Acland Street in St Kilda about 12.30am Sunday. He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening leg injuries.
Shortly after, a Protective Services Officer in South Yarra saw a man who matched the description of the alleged offender, sparking a foot chase by riot police from the Public Order Response Team.
The man was arrested on Powell Street about 1.15am and remains in custody.
Meanwhile, detectives are investigating a fourth incident in Southbank and whether it could be linked.
A 28-year-old Mount Waverley man was knifed in Southbank on City Road, near Kings Way, about 9.20pm, sustaining non-life-threatening leg and torso injuries
Officers wish to speak with a woman who is believed to have witnessed the Southbank stabbing but left the scene before being interviewed.
Police say the incidents are not believed to be terrorism-related and that there is no further danger to the public. They are not seeking anyone else in relation to the stabbings.
UPDATE:
Detectives have charged a man with 15 offences following a series of stabbings in Melbourne’s inner-city suburbs overnight.
It will be alleged the 31-year-old Melton man stabbed five people in four separate random attacks over a three-hour period.
A 24-year-old was allegedly stabbed outside a King Street burger store about 10pm.
The Melbourne man was taken to hospital with a non-life-threatening leg injury.
It’s alleged the man then stabbed a man and woman walking along Dandenong Road in St Kilda East about 11pm.
The 31-year-old St Kilda East woman was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries but is now stable.
The man, a 31-year-old from Glen Waverley, was taken to hospital with a serious arm injury and is now stable
In the third incident, a 31-year-old man was allegedly stabbed on Acland Street in St Kilda about 12.30am.
The English national was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening leg injuries.
The alleged offender was spotted by Protective Services Officers (PSOs) in South Yarra before being arrested by Public Order Response Team members on Powell Street about 1.15am.
He has been charged with:
2 counts of intentionally cause serious injury in circumstances of gross violence
2 counts of recklessly cause serious injury in circumstances of gross violence
5 counts of intentionally cause injury
5 counts of recklessly cause injury
1 count of possess controlled weapon
He will be conveyed from Prahran Police Station to the Custody Centre before a remand hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court this afternoon /evening.
Detectives were investigating whether a stabbing in Southbank may be linked.
A 28-year-old man was stabbed while walking along City Road, near Kings Way, about 9.20pm.
The Mount Waverley man was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries to his leg and torso.
Detectives have now linked this incident and it forms part of the 15 charges.
