Shoppers at a busy shopping centre in Melbourne's eastern suburbs were left in shock after a man allegedly carrying a knife was seen wandering through the complex. Police were called to Forest Hill Chase around 11:50 am on Thursday following reports of a man brandishing a weapon.
Witness Account
A witness named Lou told 3AW radio that he spotted the man near the Coles supermarket shortly before police arrived. "There's a gentleman outside the Coles supermarket with headphones on that was pacing up and down near the escalators with a knife," Lou said. He described the knife as looking like a butcher's boning knife, approximately eight inches long. "The police have arrived, I think there's four police cars in attendance when I left," he added.
Police Response
Police confirmed that no threats were made with the weapon and no injuries were reported. The 30-year-old man from Box Hill was arrested without incident and taken to hospital for assessment. He is expected to be interviewed by police.
Social Media Reaction
Video footage of the incident posted on social media sparked concern among users. One commenter said, "And this is why u don't let my 12 yo go to shopping centres solo! He thinks I'm too strict - grateful for the footage to back my argument!" Another user described the situation as "petrifying."
Police continue to investigate the incident, and further details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
