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Up to 10 may face murder charges over Zillmere knife fight

Police are set to charge 10 people with murder over a Brisbane brawl that left a teenager dead and several others critically injured.

Sep 16, 2020, updated Sep 16, 2020
Police have charged more than 20 people with drug offences in north Queensland. (Photo: ABC)

Police have charged more than 20 people with drug offences in north Queensland. (Photo: ABC)

 

Girum Mekonnen, 19, died after a fight between two groups of about 20 African youths at playing fields in Zillmere on Sunday afternoon.

Detective Superintendent Tony Fleming says 10 young men are in police custody and in the process of being charged.

“I expect that each of those people will be charged with one count of murder,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

Det Supt Fleming said the men would also be charged with 11 counts of acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm and one count of affray.

He says it will be alleged those involved went to Zillmere with the intent to assault the victims.

“This was an event that was highly confrontational and has been traumatic for the victims of the crime and their families,” he said.

“It’s just unacceptable to have people in a public space who are going about their business then attacked this way.”

Paramedics took 11 people to hospital suffering stab wounds and blunt force injuries after one group attacked another with knives and baseball bats.

Some of the victims were knifed in their torso, pelvis, head and face.

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Three people remain in hospital with one in a serious condition.

Police believe three carloads of people arrived at the Zillmere park seeking retribution for another incident in Brisbane’s west on September 8.

Earlier, police said they were concerned some victims won’t cooperate with investigators and may take matters into their own hands.

“It’s a horrific, unacceptable attack in our society,” Det Supt Fleming said.

“But retribution is not going to solve the problem.”

Det Supt Fleming says more people may be charged.

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