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A quiet family home operating as an Airbnb became the scene of a bloody teenage stabbing after the address of an illicit 15th birthday party was shared on social media.
The party at a Sedgman Crescent property in Shalvey, in Sydney’s south-west, spiralled into chaos on Tuesday night when the teenage boy was stabbed multiple times.
NSW Police were called to the home about 10.40pm following initial reports that a shot had been fired at the gathering.
‘From about 8pm, dozens of teenagers were arriving in droves – all carrying grog,’ next-door neighbour Matthew told the Daily Mail.
‘The address was shared on Facebook and that’s why so many turned up.
‘Then at about 10.30pm is when I heard a ruckus – firecrackers going off, lots of movement, people running and then a lot of screaming.’
Emergency services, including officers from the riot and dog squads, arrived to find a crowd of young people surrounding an injured 17-year-old boy suffering serious wounds to his abdomen, ribs and shoulder.
He was rushed to Westmead Hospital where he is still fighting for life in a critical condition.
The home at Shalvey in Sydney's south-west where the teenager was stabbed
Medical scissors surrounded by blood were found on Sedgman Crescent days after the attack
Gruesome bloodstains remained visible at the scene on Thursday
Police confirmed knives were recovered at the crime scene.
Property owner Bennish Kuttiparath said his four-bedroom investment property had been booked at the last minute on Tuesday morning.
‘It was made under the name Adut Nuerdeng, which may have been a minor, maybe it was a stolen credit card, I don’t know,’ he said.
‘They booked it at 10:29am and It was meant to be for three adults for one night costing $446.73.’
Airbnb’s terms require guests to be aged 18 or over to make a booking and for the person who books the property to be present for the entirety of the stay.
Mr Kuttiparath, who previously lived at the home with his young family, said he had lodged a claim with the short-term accommodation platform, but the property remains an active crime scene.
‘For now, the Airbnb bookings have been turned off due to the police investigation and the damages,’ he said.
‘We have to fix all the damages before we continue accepting bookings.’
On Thursday, blood was still visible along the driveway and footpath, empty cans were strewn across the dry lawn and medical scissors were found in the gutter.
A smashed window seen at the property which remains 'an active crime scene'
A neighbour said he witnessed 'droves' of teens carrying 'grog' before hearing a 'ruckus' around 10:30pm
According to another neighbour, some adult eyewitnesses who live nearby and were sitting on their verandah at the time of the attack and watched it unfold
Read More Teenager, 17, is left fighting for life after stabbing at house party as riot squad is called in
A neighbour said the usually quiet street was overrun with teenagers that night.
‘The street was lined with cars dropping kids off – where were their parents?’ the witness said.
‘There is a bus stop out the front and loads of them got off. There had to be more than 50 youngsters.’
According to another neighbour, some adult eyewitnesses who live nearby were sitting on their verandah at the time of the attack and watched it unfold.
Those neighbours declined to comment when approached by the Daily Mail, but it is understood they are cooperating with police enquiries.
Detective Superintendent Darrin Batchelor described the incident as a ‘frenzied and horrific attack’.
‘The descriptions that we’ve been given at the moment, and from the CCTV footage, is that they are quite young, probably in their teenage years,’ he said.
‘Whether they were connected with the location or with the people at that party, we don’t know.’
While some residents remain adamant they heard gunshots, Detective Superintendent Batchelor said investigators had found no evidence a firearm was used.
The injured teenager was located at a nearby property following the attack.
After reviewing CCTV footage and conducting witness interviews, police are searching for two young men of Sudanese appearance seen walking towards the party.
Detective Superintendent Batchelor said investigators are still working to establish the link between the victim and the pair.
He described the stabbing as ‘shocking’ and is not ruling out the possibility it was a ‘chance altercation’.