Australian police arrest 24 youths after gang-related Melbourne riots

Australian police have tracked down and charged 24 people involved in last month's violent, gang-linked riots that marred a family festival in Melbourne.

Victoria Police combed through 160 hours of security camera footage, eye-witness mobile phone videos and media photographs to identify more than half of those who participated in the riots that shut down Melbourne's city center in March.

Many of those arrested claimed to be members of the Apex street gang, a Melbourne youth group that incited similar scuffles during New Year's Eve and White Night festivities.

Police believe around 100 people were at the main brawl on Moomba night, a popular festival that attracts more than one million people to inner-city Melbourne each year. But they are still unsure whether the fight, which also reportedly involved rival gang Islander 23, broke out over race or as part of a complicated turf war.

Taskforce Ares detectives, from the special unit set up to catch and punish those involved, were also aided by parents who turned in their misbehaving sons after recognizing them in media reports.

"They come from good families who have either brought them to us or have arranged for when they should come and speak to us," Victoria Police assistant commissioner Stephen Leane told News Corp on Monday.

"With some of the communities, there's a level of shame that their sons particularly have been involved in this matter."

As well as the rioting and affray charges, which carry a five-year maximum prison sentence, investigators will allege that 17 robberies and thefts were committed on the night.

Those arrested will face a special "Moomba court", convened to prosecute offenders, within the next month.

Police expect to make more arrests in the coming weeks. Endit