Police are hunting a gang of machete-wielding intruders who abducted a man from his home and murdered him, before dumping his body near a children's playground.
Homicide detectives were called to Bruny Drive in Tarneit, in Melbourne's west, at 4.30am on Friday after the 30-year-old man's body was discovered just metres from the play area.
Detectives believe the victim was savagely attacked and snatched from a home in South Morang, in Melbourne's north, about 90 minutes earlier.
Police said a group of males pulled up in a dark-coloured vehicle, forced their way into the property - where a second man and two young children were also present - and assaulted the victim with machetes before bundling him into their car.
Homicide Squad chief Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said the incident was 'targeted' but said investigators were keeping an open mind about any possible links to bikie gangs or organised crime.
He said the incident would have been 'confronting' for the children.
'Those children are safe and with family,' he said.
'To be home, in your house and to have something like this happen is extremely... it is very, very frightening.'
Police are hunting a gang of machete-wielding intruders who abducted a man from his home and murdered him, before dumping his body near a children's playground
Homicide detectives were called to Bruny Drive in Tarneit, in Melbourne's west, at 4.30am on Friday after the 30-year old man's body was discovered just metres from the play area
Police are also investigating whether a car found burnt out in Eynesbury, west of Melbourne, is connected to the killing.
A large police presence remained at the Tarneit park for much of the day as forensic officers examined the scene.
Det Insp Thomas made an impassioned plea to the public, assuring the community Victoria Police would bring the gang to justice.
'I assure the community that we have a large number of Homicide Squad detectives working on this investigation and we will piece it together and we will determine what has happened and we will identify those responsible,' he said.
Insp Thomas said police were worried the incident could result in further violence.
'We're always concerned about retaliation but we work closely with the deceased's family and associates - but we keep an open mind to everything,' he said.
Detectives want to speak to anyone in the South Morang area in the early hours, as well as anyone driving between South Morang and Tarneit who has dashcam footage or saw anything suspicious.
Machete-related incidents in Melbourne more than tripled from 610 in 2021 to 2,061 in 2024, with boys under 18 accounting for about 40 per cent of machete offences in the most recent full-year data.
Homicide Squad chief Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said the incident was 'targeted' but said investigators were keeping an open mind about links to bikie gangs or organised crime
Latest statistics show Victoria Police seized a record number of edged weapons during the same period.
Knife crime, particularly involving youth and machetes, has been a major public and political concern in Victoria, leading to a machete ban and tougher penalties.
Anyone with information on the latest attack should contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.