An 18-year-old has been charged after two teenagers were stabbed in a violent brawl inside a shopping centre in Sydney’s west.
Emergency services rushed to the Westfield shopping centre in Mount Druitt about 5.15pm on Tuesday following reports of an assault.
Witnesses told police a verbal altercation broke out between a group of young men, believed to be known to each other, outside the centre.
The group separated but then came across each other again about 15 minutes later in the car park outside a Kmart, opposite the Dawson Mall town centre.
A 17-year-old boy and a 22-year-old man allegedly suffered stab wounds during the brawl.
The 22-year-old man ran inside Kmart to escape his attacker and seek medical attention after he was stabbed in the back and suffered a punctured lung.
First responders moved shoppers and staff to the back of the store while paramedics treated the man before he was rushed to Westmead Hospital with critical injuries.
The 17-year-old was treated for slash wounds to his hand and face and was taken to Nepean Hospital in a stable condition.
Following inquiries, strike force detectives arrested an 18-year-old man at a home on Rooty Hill Road, North Rooty Hill, at about 4pm on Wednesday.
Police seized several items of interest from the home, which are believed to be related to the stabbing, including a butter knife.
The 18-year-old was taken to Mount Druitt Police Station where he was charged with affray.
He was refused bail and is set to face Parramatta Local Court on Thursday.
Police will allege the 18-year-old was known to the boy and the man who sustained stab wounds.
Prior to the stabbing, locals said a larger group of teens had been fighting.
‘We (saw) it, two teens were getting chased and bashed by a group of guys with weapons, they had balaclavas on,’ one wrote on a online community group.
Others added the group had been chasing the boy ‘with a chair’.
They said the knife-wielding attacker then appeared and stabbed at one of the teens before running into a nearby Kmart store.
Detective Superintendent Darrin Batchelor said investigators believe the attack was related to recent ‘postcode’ wars.
‘It seems to be a street gang type of altercation,’ Det Sup Batchelor told media on Wednesday.
‘Quite frankly, I can’t understand where you might have an issue with someone’s postcode. Their answer to that would be to carry knives, which is totally unacceptable.’
Det Sup Bacthelor made an urgent appeal to concerned parents to contact police if they believe their sons might be involved in the postcode wars.
‘I have no doubt there are a number of parents in this community right now that are worried that their young sons are involved in these postcode wars, and may end up in jail, in hospital or worse,’ Det Sup Batchelor said.
‘I appeal to those parents, if you have concerns of your son being involved in these street gangs for whatever reason, whether it’s peer pressure or otherwise, contact police and we’ll be able to assist those young people.’
An investigation into the altercation is ongoing.