Warring gangs overrun Melbourne milk bar, armed with tools and bats

Rival gangs armed with baseball bats and other weapons have stormed a convenience store in Melbourne’s north.

The group surrounded a father-of-three who owns the shop, and attacked each other in what is believed to be an ongoing turf war.

A man had slipped into the Coburg milk bar to hide from a rival gang, but the move did not work.

Seconds later a gang of 20 men armed with baseball bats and metal tools stormed the shop looking for him.

Shop owner Joe Risoli said the man ran straight through the shop and out the back, leaving him surrounded.

“This first fella came in in with a long piece of wood, a branch of a tree, and they were after him,” Mr Risoli said.

“If they all started fighting it would have been a pub brawl.”

The terrifying attack happened at 9pm on Monday night when Mr Risoli was working alone.

The 69-year-old said the thugs screamed threats as they ransacked benchtops and hurled chairs at their target, who was cornered in the pizza kitchen.

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The gang continued its rampage for 10 minutes until the sound of police sirens sent them running.

Frightened neighbours heard the melee spill out onto the street.

Locals believe the violent confrontation inside Mr Risoli’s shop was a showdown between rival gangs who are fighting over territory. They say drugs are a growing problem in Coburg, and robbery and theft is common.

Mr Risoli was not hurt but said he was furious it was the fourth time his shop had been hit.

The gang is still on the run.