Shoppers were left in a panic on Friday after a man allegedly stole a knife from a grocery store and began brandishing it around a busy shopping centre on the outskirts of Melbourne.
The man, 30, allegedly took the knife from a store at Watergardens Shopping Centre in Taylors Lakes and brandished it in the centre on Friday afternoon.
Police allege he used the knife to assault and threaten a 21-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman inside the centre about 12.50pm.
A spokeswoman for Victoria Police said the man was “swiftly arrested” with help from the public, and is currently assisting police with their inquiries.
The Herald Sun reported that shoppers on the scene locked themselves inside shops to escape the alleged knife-wielder.
The Sunshine man, who was not identified by police, reportedly threatened a group in a barber shop before being tackled to the ground by multiple concerned Melburnians.
“He was in the barber shop and then was walking with a knife in front of him,” a woman told the Herald Sun.
“The barbers ran out with chairs and managed to hold him down until the cops came.
“The shops all closed and locked everyone inside. The cops still have him barricaded and secure.”
Police have reported that the man did not make any threats.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage or CCTV is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The alleged threats come three weeks after the Bondi Westfield stabbings, in which six people were killed in a Sydney shopping centre.
The country has seen a marked rise in alleged knife crime over April and May.
Footage released by Melbourne’s 3AW showed a group tackling on the ground at the Westgardens centre on Friday afternoon.
Victoria Police and Ambulance Victoria were called to the scene.
More to come.