Dau Akueng, 15, and Chol Achiek, 12, were walking from a bus stop in Cobblebank with a third friend just before 8pm when they were set upon by a group of up to eight masked people.

Police are now investigating if the teenagers were killed in a potential case of mistaken identity as the state government faces pressure to address the knife crime crisis gripping Victoria.

Dau and Chol were found critically injured on the street about 200 metres apart in what police have described as having “the hallmarks of a youth gang crime”.

Victoria Police duty crime officer Graham Banks said the incident was “one of the most horrific crimes” and appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

Banks added that Chol and Dau were not gang members.

State opposition leader Brad Battin said the government needed drastic action to stamp out the crime wave.

“The government needs to come out with stronger action… not just media releases,” Battin said.

“This weekend alone we have seen three people killed on the streets in Victoria, that is not good enough.

“That’s not the Melbourne I grew up in, that’s not the Melbourne we have pride in.”

The deadly machete attack on Dau and Chol came just a week after Victoria enshrined a state-wide ban on the weapon.

“This is a basketball player, he’s not a criminal,” Dau’s father Elbino Akueng said yesterday.

“I’m talking on behalf of my community, this is happening to us.

“In the last month, we have buried four kids, similar incidents keep happening, but there’s no answer from police.”

Battin said “tougher action” was needed in the wake of Saturday’s incident.

“Enough is enough,” he added.

No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.