The Age believes the man hit by the car was with the teenager accused of fatally stabbing 19-year-old Laa Chol in July on the night of her death. It is not known if the riot was payback for the alleged stabbing. Fourteen police officers were rostered, as normal, to work the night shift across Collingwood, Fitzroy and Richmond. Police were called from the city to respond as Mater Street erupted in violence about 2.45am. Several witnesses told Fairfax Media that officers were so outnumbered they were effectively reduced to bystanders until reinforcements arrived. "Police presence was so low that they were just watching," one witness – who asked not be named – said. "Not going near anyone or trying to break any of the fights up as they knew they would be turned on and there were literally 100 of them [involved in the brawl]."

Victoria Police refused to comment on the request for extra resources or the possible connection to Ms Chol's death. Up to 200 people flooded the street, screaming and fighting, after the record label launch. Pyjama-clad residents were also injured in the brawl as they rushed to help injured people. The riot came despite public warnings from the event's host a day earlier that police had been notified and violence "will not be tolerated". Typed all in capitals, the message from 66 Records' "active manager" J-Nelly said organisers had met with ‘‘federal detectives, who are very concerned with the energy, which they have related to the latest sparks of new reports degrading the African community ...’’

Victoria Police commander Tim Hansen said police expected, within the next 24 hours, to arrest a key person of interest who is linked to the car involved. Police had spoken to the owner of the car, which had not been reported as stolen. "Currently we have one person who's assisting us with our inquiries, he is deemed a witness at this stage, however, from his evidence it's anticipated that arrests will occur shortly," he said. Mater Street resident Michael Devine said the scene was “just anarchy". “I sort of saw a flash on a car and heard a screech and then bang ...''

The 43-year-old said he saw a car travelling at around 80-90km/h zoom through the street towards the crowd. It hit some parked cars and injured a young man. “He was in agony,” Mr Devine said. “He looked like he had half a leg ... ” Mr Devine held the man as he yelled in pain, waiting for the paramedics to arrive on the scene. Nick Whelan moved into his Mater Street apartment on Saturday. His roommate woke him as violence broke out. “It was a noise like a soccer riot or something ... fighting between each other, fighting anyone in sight.”

The aftermath of the brawl. Mr Whelan said there were people jumping on cars, and heard the sounds of smashing windows. He saw the car speeding down Mater Street towards Smith Street, directly at the group of people. “One hundred per cent that was on purpose," he said. "It seemed like the riot had started and someone got in a car. There was malice, they were aiming for something.” The injured man is 18 years old and suffered serious injuries to his leg when he was pinned to another vehicle when the car hit him. He remained at The Alfred hospital on Sunday night in a critical but stable condition.

Five other people aged between 18 and 21 were injured in the fight and taken to hospital. Blood on a car at the scene of the brawl. Credit:AAP Residents ran onto the street to assist the injured while they waited for police. When emergency services arrived, Mr Devine and his friends returned to his house for blankets. “There were people fighting in the street, there was a guy lying flat on the concrete across the road,” said Andrew Kelly, who was also at the scene. “As Michael (Devine) went home he brushed a man who yelled ‘don’t you touch me’ and just punched him.”

Mr Devine said the man “kicked the hell out of me". "It was like they were all coming at me,” he said. His leg was bruised and sore on Sunday morning, and his hands and ear revealed cuts and scrapes from the attack. Police are still investigating how many of the crowd were actively involved in the brawl. Damage to cars following the brawl. Credit: Josh Whelen

Commander Hansen said police became concerned about the event on Saturday afternoon and placed several extra vehicles in the area to patrol. "It was primarily Pacific Islanders and African Australians ... that were present at the night. Because of that, because it was in the CBD and immediate surrounds, it’s not uncommon for police to take units to keep a close eye on certain locations." Premier Daniel Andrews said those at the centre of the “shocking” incident would be caught and punished. “This is absolutely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our city and state,” he said. 66 Records in an independent music label based in Melbourne. It features hip-hop and rap artists predominantly from the African Australian community.

Saturday night’s event was the launch for the label, with live performances from many of their signed artists. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Commander Hansen said on Sunday he was not aware of any specific conversation that organisers had with police. But after questions from The Age, police media later confirmed they had met with organisers of the Gasometer Hotel gig before Saturday. A police spokeswoman said police weren't disclosing the private discussions held with the event organisers. Laa Chol was killed during a party at a short-term stay unit on the 56th floor of the EQ Tower on July 21. Two teens have been charged over her death.