Victoria Police has arrested two teenage boys, a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old, following the violent altercation that sent families with their children fleeing in fear.

The bloody brawl erupted about 5pm at the Woodgrove Shopping Centre in Melton in Melbourne’s outer west.

Photos shared on social media show a wild attack, with one boy in a hoodie raising what appears to be a machete.

Witnesses to the shocking event also posted to social media describing horrendous scenes.

“Saw a guy dripping blood at the exit near Maccas,” one wrote on Monday night.

“Police responded to the incident at the shopping complex on Barries Road about 5pm yesterday following reports of a group of males fighting, armed with edged weapons,” the police said.

“A boy, aged 15 from Weir Views, was located with head injuries and conveyed to hospital where he remains.

“This morning, investigators arrested two boys.”

Police have charged the boys with affray, possessing prohibited weapons and being armed with criminal intent.

Both boys will face the children’s court.

“The boy who remains in hospital will be interviewed about the incident upon release from hospital,” the police said.

The blast of knife violence follows Saturday’s Bondi massacre in eastern Sydney that left six innocent people dead and came just two hours before an alleged stabbing terror attack on a church in western Sydney.