By Melissa Meehan in Melbourne

Tributes have flowed for a food delivery driver who was fatally stabbed while on the job.

Jianming Feng was one of two delivery riders allegedly attacked after seeing a man tampering with their bikes in Melbourne’s city centre on Friday night.

The two men confronted a 51-year-old and an altercation occurred, with both allegedly stabbed and emergency services called.

Mr Feng, 47, died at the scene.

His 34-year-old colleague was taken to hospital.

The 51-year-old man involved in the altercation was arrested and interviewed by police on Saturday.

Floral tributes have been placed near the state library as locals and other delivery drivers come to terms with the horrific incident.

Some cards on the flowers expressed sympathy for Mr Feng’s family, while others included statements including “City of Criminal”, “Safe Street for Every Person” and “Asian Lives Matter”.

Hundreds gathered on the lawns outside the library on Saturday afternoon, with many angry about crime levels in Melbourne and others expressing concerns for the safety of delivery drivers.

Others paid their respects by donating to a GoFundMe page set up to support his family.

Mr Feng, affectionately known to friends and colleagues as Brother Feng, was a hardworking father, loving husband and a familiar face in Melbourne’s Chinatown, the GoFundMe said.

“What should have been another ordinary Friday evening at work ended in an unimaginable tragedy,” the page said.

Mr Feng, originally from Shaanxi Province, China, came to Australia in 2017 to work and support his family back home.

The fundraiser set up by the Melbourne Chinatown Business Association has already raised more than $148,000 to help Mr Feng’s wife and children with emergency travel and accommodation and funeral expenses.

Mr Feng’s wife Xu said on Saturday her husband was the family’s main breadwinner and had supported elderly parents and young children.

Premier Ben Carroll said his heart went out to Mr Feng and his family.

He said he was working hard to provide more support for gig economy workers.

“We do know that often people in the gig economy, particularly that are doing the transit deliveries, are some of the most vulnerable Victorians, and they do need proper protections in place and workplace safety,” Mr Carroll told reporters in North Melbourne on Sunday.

“I’m very pleased to see someone is in custody, and justice will be done.”

News all day, every day at CityNewsQBN.com.au.