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| Seven teenagers arrested over stabbing deaths of two boys in Melbourne | Seven teenagers arrested over stabbing deaths of two boys in Melbourne |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police investigating deaths of Dau Akueng, 15, and Chol Achiek, 12, raid homes in city’s north-west | Police investigating deaths of Dau Akueng, 15, and Chol Achiek, 12, raid homes in city’s north-west |
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| Seven teenagers have been arrested over the stabbing deaths of 15-year-old Dau Akueng and 12-year-old Chol Achiek in Melbourne’s west. | Seven teenagers have been arrested over the stabbing deaths of 15-year-old Dau Akueng and 12-year-old Chol Achiek in Melbourne’s west. |
| Police have confirmed that a 19-year-old Thornhill Park man, a 19-year-old Caroline Springs man, an 18-year-old Wollert man, along with three 16-year-old boys and a 15-year-old boy, all from the north-west suburbs of Melbourne, were arrested on Friday morning after raids on homes by homicide squad detectives. | Police have confirmed that a 19-year-old Thornhill Park man, a 19-year-old Caroline Springs man, an 18-year-old Wollert man, along with three 16-year-old boys and a 15-year-old boy, all from the north-west suburbs of Melbourne, were arrested on Friday morning after raids on homes by homicide squad detectives. |
| The seven teenagers were being interviewed by police. | |
| Dau and Chol were walking home from a basketball game on 6 September when they were allegedly attacked on separate streets in Cobblebank, in the city’s west, by masked assailants armed with machetes and long-edged weapons. | Dau and Chol were walking home from a basketball game on 6 September when they were allegedly attacked on separate streets in Cobblebank, in the city’s west, by masked assailants armed with machetes and long-edged weapons. |
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| At the time, Victoria police Det Insp Graham Banks said the case had “the hallmarks of youth gang crime”, though the duo were not members. | |
| Chol’s father, Chuti Ngong, described his son as a “lovely” and “peaceful boy” at a candlelight vigil last week. | Chol’s father, Chuti Ngong, described his son as a “lovely” and “peaceful boy” at a candlelight vigil last week. |
| “He loved everybody – loved all the family, siblings, everybody,” he said. | “He loved everybody – loved all the family, siblings, everybody,” he said. |
| Terry Koumides, who met Dau in 2020 through a youth basketball program, described him as “a sweet kid”. | |
| “He was a contributor, he was well-mannered,” he said. “He was polite.” | “He was a contributor, he was well-mannered,” he said. “He was polite.” |
| Manny Hendrix, Dau’s basketball coach, said he had dreams of playing for the NBA. “Basketball was his life,” he said. | Manny Hendrix, Dau’s basketball coach, said he had dreams of playing for the NBA. “Basketball was his life,” he said. |
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| Since the deaths a “significant investigation” by the homicide squad has been under way to “collect all available evidence”, police said on Friday. | Since the deaths a “significant investigation” by the homicide squad has been under way to “collect all available evidence”, police said on Friday. |
| Police had also increased patrols in Cobblebank as part of community reassurance efforts, and met with schools, council and community leaders. | Police had also increased patrols in Cobblebank as part of community reassurance efforts, and met with schools, council and community leaders. |
| The investigation was ongoing. Anyone with information was urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online. |