Police step up patrols after machete fight and gunshots at Melbourne shopping centre

Police have stepped up patrols of a shopping centre in Melbourne's north after reports shots were fired during an argument between men armed with machetes on Thursday evening.

Craigieburn Central was placed into lockdown at around 7:10pm on Thursday.

Police were told two groups of males, both armed with machetes, were seen arguing at the shopping centre and two gunshots were heard.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said there were no reports of injury at Craigieburn Road complex following the Thursday disturbance.

"It is understood two groups of males were seen arguing at the location but fled prior to police arrival," the police spokeswoman said.

"Police were told some of the males were armed with machetes.

"There were no reports of injuries and the shopping centre was briefly placed into lockdown as a precaution.

"Police will have a visible presence and will be conducting patrols in the area for community reassurance."

Martin was at the centre with his six-year-old son.

He said he saw a group of males wearing masks just outside the food outlet where he was sitting.

He said some men approached the group and it looked like they were telling them to calm down when a second group of masked males arrived.

"They ran towards each other and then a shot was heard," he told the ABC radio program Evenings with David Astle.

"They looked like swords; I've never seen such large machetes before."

Martin said he immediately called the police while other shoppers fled.

He said there were mainly women and children inside the food outlet.

"Almost every single one of them were on the floor.

"I picked up my son, and I saw a lady with her four daughters. Roughly about five or six minutes later, when everything calmed down, they were too scared to leave."

Haiqa Asif was at the shopping centre with her family and said there was "a real stampede" when people realised what was happening.

"At one point we heard a gunshot but we didn't take it seriously because we thought we might be mistaken, but then we saw people outside running and grabbing their children and then we realised something was wrong," she told ABC Radio Melbourne.

"We saw [what looked like] a couple of teenagers running with masks on and holding machetes and that was very terrifying."

Hume Mayor Carly Moore said the incident was troubling.

"It's pretty frustrating to hear reports of this kind of thing happening all too often now," she told 774 ABC Melbourne.

"I think we need to have a really serious conversation around what we expect and what does our community expect."

Police are investigating the incident and urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.