Four girls and an 18-year-old woman have been arrested after a brawl broke out in the food court at Northland Shopping Centre in Melbourne.
Victoria Police said officers were patrolling the Preston shopping centre on Friday night when they saw a group involved in a fight.
The girls arrested were aged 12, 14, 16 and 17. The woman, from Coburg North, was also taken into custody.
The 14-year-old suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital. The 12-year-old was treated by paramedics and later released while police continued their inquiries.
Police interviewed the 18-year-old and the 16 and 17-year-olds, who are expected to be charged on summons. No further details were given about the circumstances of the fight.
Previous incidents at Northland Shopping Centre
The Northland Shopping Centre brawl follows a series of serious incidents at the Melbourne mall.
In May 2025, shoppers fled after a fight involving 10 people armed with machetes broke out in the food court. Police believed the incident was linked to rival gangs and motivated by retaliation, with one man seriously injured.
The following month, shoppers filmed an SUV being driven at speed through the centre, prompting renewed calls for tighter security.
Crime Statistics Agency data recorded 5,901 offences across 13 major Melbourne shopping centres during the 2024–25 financial year, a 20 per cent increase on the previous year. Bayside Frankston recorded the highest number of incidents, followed by Northland and Westfield Fountain Gate.
