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2 gang members arrested after violent riots mar Australian festival 

Xinhua, March 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

Two members of a youth gang who started a violent riot in the Australian city of Melbourne at the weekend have been arrested by police.

Victoria Police's Special Operations Group pounced on the pair, both part of the Sudanese-dominated Apex street gang, on Monday night, taking them into police custody in relation to a spate of car thefts.

Two days earlier, almost 150 young men from rival gangs - Apex and Islander 23 - clashed in Melbourne's Federation Square in the midst of the family-friendly Moomba festival, sending bystanders fleeing in panic.

Police managed to disperse the crowd with batons and capsicum spray, but the rioters continued to rush through other parts of the CBD throwing metal chairs, among other objects, as they ran amok.

In the aftermath of the ugly incident, it was revealed that emergency services ignored a warning about the impending violence, leaving police hopelessly outnumbered.

It is believed the gangs coordinated the gathering via social media.

Apex is a multicultural gang made up of youths of Sudanese, Pacific Islander, Maori, Afghani and Middle Eastern descent, while members of the Islander 23 gang predominately hail from the Pacific Islands.

Only four members of the two gangs were arrested on the night.

Police have not confirmed if the two 18-year-olds arrested during Monday's raid, which involved heavily-armed taskforce officers tackling the pair to the ground, attended the riots.

A police spokeswoman said in a statement on Tuesday: "It is believed the men are affiliated with the Apex gang, alleged to be involved in a recent spate of serious offences including aggravated burglary, car jackings and armed robberies."

In the course of the operation, one of the suspects was hit by a police vehicle and taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Victoria Police have been monitoring Apex since January last year.

Since being founded in Melbourne's south-east 18 months ago, the group has marred multiple public events in Melbourne such as New Year's Eve and White Night and been linked to a rise in serious crime in the region.

A special police force, known as Taskforce Tense, was set up to crackdown on Apex members who flout the law and has already made 33 arrests.

However, it has been reported that many officers have been reluctant to approach these young men, particularly members from African backgrounds, due to fears they may be accused of racial profiling.

An inquiry is underway into the gang's involvement in Saturday night's violence. Endit