Police are investigating a double stabbing in Carlton on New Year’s Eve that left two people in hospital with serious injuries.

Police were called to the popular dining strip in Lygon Street about 11:45pm. Ambulance Victoria and Fire Rescue Victoria also attended.

Officers found two men, aged 20 and 18, with serious stab wounds, and they were taken to hospital.

Two police forensics officers.

Police forensics officers investigated the scene of the double stabbing in Carlton. (ABC News)

Police said a group of up to seven males armed with knives and machetes attacked the men outside a restaurant before fleeing in vehicles.

Melbourne Crime Investigation unit detectives are investigating whether it was a targeted attack.

Tim Tulley, Victoria Police’s Acting Assistant Commissioner for the north-west metropolitan region, said the incident was concerning.

He said the two men in hospital were in a critical condition, but their injuries were not life-threatening.

“If you carry any edged weapon without any exemption whatsoever … you’re either going to jail, you’re going to hospital or you’re going to the cemetery,” he said.

Tim Tully looks seriously at someone off camera.

Tim Tully from Victoria Police said the incident in Carlton was concerning. (ABC News)

The Victorian government introduced a ban on selling and owning machetes, unless carrying a valid exemption, last year.   

Victorian Acting Premier Ben Carroll said there was “zero tolerance” for crime in Victoria.

“There are less knives on our streets thanks to our amnesty around that, we’ve given police more powers than ever before,” he said.

“We’ve always got more work to do … and that’s what we’re focused on.”

Police call for Carlton witnesses 

Acting Superintendent Chris Hamilton from Victoria Police said detectives are still trying to piece together what happened.

“We’re not linking that one to any New Year’s Eve celebrations. This is a standalone job that unfolded in Melbourne. It’s another job that involves, we believe, machetes or certainly knives,” he told ABC Radio Melbourne.

“We have intel to suggest that there were two carloads of offenders that fled prior to our arrival.”

Detectives and uniformed police locked down the area, and the investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Police have asked anyone who witnessed the incident or has footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.