An 18-year-old girl was hospitalised following a brutal knife attack in Deer Park, west Melbourne, on Wednesday evening. The teenager was assaulted by a group of up to 10 youths at Robert Bruce Reserve around 7:15pm and was stabbed six times, kicked and stomped on during the violent incident. The attack, which was filmed, prompted police to emphasise how fortunate the victim was to survive, with detectives noting the narrow margin between the assault and a potentially fatal outcome.

The 18-year-old was hospitalised in stable condition following the assault, whilst a 20-year-old woman attacked alongside her did not require hospitalisation. It is understood the group met in the park following an online dispute and that the meeting was planned. Two knives and a hair extension were seized from the scene for forensic examination, but no arrests have been made as the attackers fled before police arrived. The incident occurred just one day after Victoria Labor announced plans to introduce Jack's Law, which would grant police stronger powers to search individuals for knives.