Dau Akueng, 15, Chol Achiek, 12, and a third friend were walking from a bus stop in Cobblebank at about 8pm when they were set upon by a group of people.

Dau and Chol died at the scene.

The news outlet quoted multiple unnamed sources to say the meme had referred to the stabbing death of a youth gang member late last year.

The same sources said neither Dau or Chol were connected to that stabbing, nor had any youth gang affiliations, which police have also confirmed.

The attack took place just a week after Victoria enshrined a ban on machetes in state law.

Families of the slain children have called for stronger action.

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

“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.”