Organisers of the Sydney Royal Easter Show have beefed up security after a teenage boy was stabbed to death in front of crowds of revellers.
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The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW was forced to defend the family-friendly reputation of the annual show after one of its 17-year-old workers was killed on Monday night.
A 15-year-old boy has been charged with multiple knife-related offences and others remain at large after the fatal stabbing during a brawl between two young groups around the adult carnival rides.
The Chief Executive of the RAS of NSW Murray Wilton offered his condolences to the dead boy's family and apologised to patrons who witnessed the stabbing, saying it was a "horrific experience".
"Someone's lost their life at our house, and it's disgraceful," Mr Wilton said on Tuesday.
He defended security at the show, saying there were police on site as well as CCTV cameras, random checks and metal detectors, but said it was impossible to search the 850,000 people who attended the show over 12 days.
"To physically check everybody's bag would be almost impossible," he said.
"We have done everything we can possibly do. It is a family event.
"What we're looking at here is two or three individuals that have gone outside the bounds of what ... is socially acceptable by bringing a knife to the Royal Easter Show.
"That is the shocking fact."
The adult rides were closed on Tuesday and security at the show has been ramped up with more police on site.
About 77,000 people visited the show on Monday but the incident took a toll on ticket sales on Tuesday, with 32,000 passing through the gates by 3pm.
The 17-year-old boy was stabbed in the chest and died en route to Westmead Hospital and a 16-year-old boy remains in hospital with stab wounds to his leg.
Police Superintendent Danielle Emerton said a 15-year-old boy had been charged with intent to commit indictable offence, and custody of knife in public place.
He was refused bail and will face a children's court on Tuesday.
Police believe more suspects were involved in what they described as a senseless and tragic targeted attack, involving two groups of teens.
"We believe that there is someone who we still need to identify that is responsible for the stabbing," Supt Emerton said.
"It may be one person, it may be a number of people."
One knife was seized, however police believe multiple weapons may have been involved.
"There were thousands of people there, if you have information, please come forward," Supt Emerton said.
A strike force has been established to investigate.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he was "deeply distressed" by the killing.
""I have no doubt the NSW police force ... will be ensuring they're doing everything within their power to make sure the royal Easter Show is safe."
NSW Ambulance Acting Chief Superintendent Stewart Clarke said the incident was confronting for paramedics and crowds of visitors who were visibly distressed.
Videos on social media captured parts of the incident, including footage of boys brawling in a busy area by a lit up a Ferris wheel, as groups of teenagers ran through crowds and a woman yelled, "Oh s**t".
Meanwhile, SafeWork NSW is investigating if the Free Fall ride should be closed for the remainder of the show after a four-year-old child was unrestrained while the ride was in operation.
A photograph showed the boy on the ride unharnessed when it was in mid-air, while three other children on the ride were restrained.
Australian Associated Press
