Three young men have been granted bail after being charged in connection with two machete attacks in Melbourne over the past two weeks. The decision comes despite concerns from a magistrate about public safety and rising knife crime in the area.

The incidents involved two gangs and occurred outside Luna Park on Sunday, where two teenagers were injured by a machete. Abbas Mazrawi, 18, Mohamed Khan, 21, and Abdurahman Khan, 18, faced the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. They were charged with various offenses, including affray and behaving in an offensive manner in a public place.

According to police, the altercation began inside Luna Park when the three men argued with another group. Security personnel removed them around 4:30 p.m. Following this, a second fight erupted on Cavell Street in St Kilda. During this confrontation, Abdurahman allegedly swung a machete at two 18-year-olds, causing minor injuries. Detective Senior Constable David Peterson stated that the victims “feared for their lives” as they were pursued by the accused.

Prosecutors opposed bail for the three men, citing the need to protect the community from escalating knife violence. The court heard that Mazrawi and Mohamed were also allegedly involved in a machete brawl that led to the shutdown of a Broadmeadows shopping center on October 11.

Magistrate Felicity Broughton released Mazrawi on bail, noting that strict conditions could mitigate his risk to the community. His attorney, Alexander Patton, argued that Mazrawi was not accused of wielding the machete, suggesting his involvement was minimal. His bail conditions include a nightly curfew, a prohibition on possessing bladed weapons, and maintaining a diary of work and court appointments.

The Khan brothers later applied for bail. Detective Peterson expressed concern about the trauma experienced by the public due to the Luna Park incident. He described the situation as “abhorrent,” especially in a family-friendly environment like a theme park. Peterson noted that many witnesses were left traumatized and hesitant to visit Melbourne again.

During the hearing, it was revealed that Mohamed was part of the group involved in the earlier Broadmeadows incident, where machetes were reportedly used. Peterson recounted how shop owners closed their doors and patrons fled in fear during that event.

The defense for the Khan brothers argued that Abdurahman acted in self-defense during the Luna Park incident, claiming he was assaulted before grabbing the machete. Abdurahman faces charges including intentionally causing injury and carrying a prohibited weapon.

Magistrate Pauline Spencer characterized Abdurahman’s actions as “very serious,” emphasizing the high risk of severe injury when weapons are involved in fights. She stated, “This is a place where people should be having a good time, not a place where people should be using weapons and machetes.”

Despite the serious nature of the charges, she granted bail to the Khan brothers, citing their lack of significant criminal history but imposed strict conditions. All three men are scheduled to return to court on December 10.