A man carrying a large butcher's knife was seen walking through Forest Hill Shopping Centre in East Melbourne on Thursday, terrifying shoppers as police rushed to detain him.
The man was spotted with the weapon near escalators inside the busy shopping centre around 11.50am, with witnesses claiming he threatened women and children as he walked through the centre.
Shoppers quickly spotted the man allegedly carrying a large butcher's knife as he walked through Forest Hill Shopping Centre on Thursday morning. Picture: Instagram @jacquifelgate
Women could be heard in the footage sharing their concern over the threatening man nearby with the armed weapon. Picture: Instagram @jacquifelgate
Police quickly moved in and detained the 30-year-old man.
Victoria Police told Sky News Australia officers were called to reports of a man carrying a knife at the Canterbury Road shopping centre about 11.50am on Thursday.
Police said 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.
Images from the scene showed the man sitting against a wall inside the centre with his hands restrained behind his back while officers maintained a close watch.
Police were able to disarm the man, with one officer later seen holding the knife while wearing blue gloves. The 30-year-old man was detained by police inside the shopping centre on Thursday morning, following reports he was walking around with a knife. Picture: Instagram @jacquifelgate
Shoppers gathered near an escalator as a man allegedly carrying a knife moved through the shopping centre. Picture: Instagram @jacquifelgate
Instagram footage shared by 3AW radio host Jacqui Felgate captured the moments before police intervened.
Several women could be heard watching the man near an escalator while some shoppers continued walking through the centre.
“That guy is going to hurt himself,” one woman said.
“Send security on him,” another said.
“Now there's police there,” a third woman said.
Local resident Lou told 3AW the man had been “pacing up and down” near the escalators.
“There's a gentleman outside the Coles supermarket with headphones on that was pacing up and down near the escalators with a knife,” he said.
“The police have arrived, I think there's four police cars in attendance. When I left, the police had already arrived and should have him by now.
“It looked like a butcher's boning knife, about eight inches long.”
The footage prompted a flood of reactions online, with many sharing their concern over Melbourne's ongoing crime crisis.
“Maybe looking for a machete bin?” one person said.
“Just another day in safe Melbourne with the tough bail laws,” another wrote.
“Moving back to Melbourne just so I can vote,” a third commented.
“And Jacinta claims Victoria is ‘SAFE’. If you are confronted with knives or machetes whilst doing a grocery shop – the state's got a huge fricken problem. VOTE her out!” another said.
Forest Hill Chase Shopping Centre has been contacted for further information.
