Update 8.46am: A 19-year-old woman has been charged with multiple offences after another woman was slashed across the face with a utility knife in Ballarat's CBD yesterday.
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The woman has been charged with intentionally causing injury, recklessly causing injury and assault with a weapon.
She has been released on bail and will appear in court at a later date.
Earlier:
A WOMAN was slashed across the face with a utility knife in Armstrong Street South yesterday afternoon.
The 41-year-old was standing outside the Central Square shopping centre about 3.30pm when the alleged attack took place.
When The Courier arrived the distraught victim was being seen by paramedics who assessed a slit underneath her left eye.
The victim’s top was smeared with blood.
Three females, aged 17, 16 and 15, were taken into custody shortly after the alleged attack.
They were arrested several blocks away, outside the Eureka Medical Centre on the corner of Dana and Albert streets.
The utility knife, alleged to have been used in the attack, was on the ground near the medical centre.
Ballarat police Sergeant Chris Taylor said he believed one of the females had allegedly slashed the
victim.
“All three who were present have been arrested and will assist us with our enquiries,” Sergeant Taylor said.
He said the victim was slashed after a brief argument and sustained a “minor cut”.
She was treated by paramedics at the scene, but was not transported to hospital.
Witnesses said they heard screaming coming from outside Central Square before a “younger girl” ran past them towards Dana Street.
Another witness, who didn’t want to be named, said she observed an argument between the women only moments before the alleged attack.
“There were words exchanged about a baby,” the woman said.
“I think the woman (the victim) said something about the baby in the pram.”
One of the females arrested was pushing a pram.
The area where the alleged attack took place has in the past been subject to council measures to deter youths from congregating there.
The Courier unsuccessfully attempted to contact City of Ballarat community safety committee chairman Des Hudson for comment.
The matter is under investigation by Ballarat Criminal Investigation Unit. Police had not charged anyone before the paper went to print last night.
patrick.byrne@fairfaxmedia.com.au