Lara Primary School in Geelong forced into lockdown
A 'drug affected' man with a machete has forced a school into lockdown in Geelong.
Police were called to Lara Secondary School at 8.40am on Friday after the 24-year-old man was spotted acting strangely outside the school in Victoria's southwest.
Police found a machete inside his bag after conducting a search and arrested the man at the scene. He is expected to be charged on summons with weapons offences.
The neighbouring Lara Primary School was also locked down as a precaution.
A local resident told the Geelong Advertiser the man appeared 'drug affected'.
He heard police yell 'get on the ground' at the man.
'It would've been embarrassing for him with all the kids coming past,' he said.
The arrest is the latest in a string of violent incidents involving machetes in Victoria, including a brawl involving up to seven teens at a north Melbourne shopping centre.
Police were called to Lara Secondary School (pictured) at 8.40am on Friday after a man described as 'drug affected' was spotted acting strangely
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan (pictured) held a snap press conference on Monday to announce the state's machete ban would be fast-tracked
Two boys, aged 15 and 16, have been charged over the incident at Northland Shopping Centre, which was captured in terrifying CCTV footage.
Another five men have since been charged with various offences.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan held a snap press conference on Monday to announce the state's machete ban would be fast-tracked.
The laws banning the sale of machetes were meant to be enforced on September 1, but came into effect on Wednesday.
'Those knives are dangerous weapons,' Premier Allan said.
'They have no place on our streets anywhere and that is why I will introduce as many laws to get these dangerous knives off the streets.
'(It) is why I'm announcing today that, effective immediately, we will be bringing in place a ban on the sale of machetes here in Victoria, and this ban will be in place from midday on Wednesday.'
