A TEENAGE party turned into a horrifying brawl as a weapon-wielding gang gatecrashed causing damage to neighbouring properties in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs last night.

Police were called to a home in Prior Rd in Malvern East near Chadstone Shopping Centre just after 11pm on Saturday following multiple reports from concerned neighbours a party had become out of control.

Detective Senior Constable Paul Thomas said there were up to 100 school-aged teens at the party before around 40 African males arrived in cars, congregated in the street and then bypassed three security guards at the party.

media_camera Police cordon off properties on Prior Rd. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

He said it was a “Springvale and Dandenong based gang” but it was “too early” to say if it was the notorious Apex gang. The gang is known to police.

“As soon as the gang members arrived, the people at the party shat themselves,” he said.

Security guards told everyone to leave the house, which is when the youths spilled onto the street and violence erupted.

Teenagers rented the Airbnb property and charged a $10 cover fee per head to cover costs including security and a DJ.

The property costs $161 a night to rent and stipulates “no parties or events” are to be held. Owner LuLu describes herself as a “university student new to hosting on Airbnb.”

media_camera A man at the house this morning. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

media_camera Outside the Prior Rd property rented on Airbnb. Picture: Andrew Henshaw media_camera Police at the property. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The party was advertised on Facebook and the hosts of the party are from the Bentleigh and Springvale areas.

Neighbour Jordan Wood, 13, captured footage of the brawl where youths were swearing, yelling, throwing bottles and destroying property.

“Kids started climbing our fence and using chairs to get over the fence to escape from police,” he said.

“I saw them carrying weapons. They were using baseball bats.”

Audio from a gatecrashed teenage party last night, when youths spilled onto the street in East Malvern. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/spYTxhFsG9 — Brianna Travers (@briannatravers) February 4, 2017

His mother Karin said it was a very quiet and family friendly street.

Other neighbours said they were “distraught,” and that they’ve “never seen so many people on the street.”

Police tested blood spatter residue on the fence and bloodied handprints near the front door.

The gang also approached a neighbouring home hosting an eighteenth birthday party on the same night, however didn’t invade the home.

media_camera Damage to a neighbouring property after of an out-of-control house party overnight. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The party hosts, the DJ and a parent all attended the house the next morning but refused to comment on the party.

Paramedics treated four males in their late teens and transported one to hospital who sustained a head injury and a broken finger.

It’s believed the party-goer was hit in the head by a brick.

No arrests have been made and police investigations are ongoing as they review CCTV footage captured by neighbours.



brianna.travers@news.com.au

@briannatravers