"I will carry out a massacre at 8pm tonight," the man allegedly told a Channel Nine journalist.
Man Denied Bail After Alleged Bourke Street Massacre Threat
Melbourne – A 31-year-old man, Luke Cecchin, was denied bail in Melbourne Magistrates' Court on May 23, 2026, following allegations he threatened to commit a massacre on Bourke Street.
The court heard that Cecchin called a Channel Nine newsroom on May 21, 2026, and told a journalist he would carry out a massacre at 8pm that night. Police located Cecchin at 7:30pm inside a McDonald's on Swanston Street, carrying a 30-centimetre kitchen knife and gloves in a bag.
The prosecution argued Cecchin posed an unacceptable risk to the community. He faces charges of threatening to kill, threatening to cause serious injury, carrying a controlled weapon, and using a carriage service to menace.
Cecchin had been released from prison just six days prior, after serving three months. On May 19, he was taken into custody and sent to Barwon Health's emergency department for a mental health assessment after allegedly threatening to harm people at Avalon Airport. He was discharged without charges.
Magistrate John Hardy denied bail, citing the need to protect community safety. He referenced the prior attacks on Bourke Street in 2017 and 2018, noting Cecchin's need for mental health treatment but deeming the risk too high. Cecchin will next appear in court on May 29.