Shocking footage has emerged of the moment three armed boys confronted another group of teenagers at a Westfield shopping centre, shutting it down and leaving shoppers running for their lives.
Westfield Marion in Adelaide was evacuated on Sunday after an altercation broke out and the two groups of teenagers began chasing each other throughout the centre.
Footage of the incident filmed by shoppers in the crowded food court showed youths fighting before a group pulled out their weapons, which police said included extendable batons and potentially a knife.
Dozens of horrified shoppers looked on while others seemed oblivious to the chaos unfolding meters away.
Customers were immediately ordered to leave or take shelter in closed shops as the center began its evacuation procedures, sparking memories of the recent stabbing at Westfield Bondi Junction that claimed six innocent lives.
A manhunt immediately began for the armed teenagers, who remained on the run early Monday morning, despite a public plea from police for them to surrender.
Shoppers inside Westfield Marion filmed a fight between two groups of teenagers that caused the mall to close at 2:53 p.m. Sunday.
Shoppers who were taken to closed stores shared images of the incident as it occurred.
Heavily armed police officers secured the Adelaide shopping center at 5pm and all remaining customers were allowed to leave.
South Australian Police Deputy Commissioner Scott Duval said it did not appear the teenagers intended to cause harm to bystanders.
“The incident actually involved three children approaching another group of children. We are not clear about the intent of that at this time, but I emphasize that it does not appear to be a random attack and it does not appear that the three children had the intent.” into attacking anyone else in the center,” she said.
“So I encourage these guys to turn themselves in to the police; maybe they didn’t intend for this incident to happen, but they need to understand the consequences of their actions.”
Paramedics at the scene treated a woman in her 70s with a shoulder injury and a person in their 30s with a knee injury.
Both are believed to have been injured during the evacuation.
Deputy Commissioner Duval said three boys in the group that started the fight were armed with extendable batons. He said a knife may also have been used in the altercation.
The two groups ran through the mall before reaching David Jones, where passersby said they saw a security guard chasing them.
Heavily armed officers from the Special Task and Rescue Group arrived shortly after and began guiding shoppers to exits and safe locations.
Terrified families were among those caught in the chaos.
Hundreds of people were trapped inside the shopping center while police cleared the area.
A man who was shopping with his wife and eight-year-old son at the time said the incident left his partner “very nervous.”
Hundreds of people crammed into closed stores shared photos of the experience online.
Several shoppers said the panic caused by the evacuation was more distressing than the children fighting.
“People certainly panicked and ran for all the exits,” one witness said. he told the advertiser.
Another man who was there with his wife and eight-year-old son said being locked in a sports store had made his wife “very nervous.”
Karmal Dhaliwal, owner of Curry Choice in the food court, told the publication that she saw one boy chasing another with what appeared to be a long knife.
“They were trying to attack him and he was running away,” he said.
Shortly after the children ran past her shop, Ms Dhaliwal said she saw a “breathless” security guard telling everyone to evacuate immediately.
‘We were really scared. It is no longer safe to work in shopping centers, these things can be prevented,” he stated.
Peter Scott, who worked at Shoe Express, said he saw “at least 100 humans charging towards me” as shoppers tried to flee the area.
Three teenagers were filmed inside the food court approaching another group before they pulled out their batons and began chasing them.
South Australian Police Deputy Commissioner Scott Duval said despite the officer’s best efforts, they were unable to locate the teenagers who had started the fight.
A police spokesman said the shopping center had been secured at 5pm and everyone still inside the center was allowed to leave.
They added that the evacuation had been a success even though officers were unable to locate the children.
“As a result of the incident, center management activated an audible alert and evacuation alarm, and the center was placed on lockdown,” police said.
‘Numerous police resources, including agents from the STAR Group, went to the center to begin a search for the groups involved in the initial disturbance.
“An extensive search of the centre, including the rooftops, was carried out but the groups involved were not located.”
Terry Field was celebrating a family member’s birthday when they were taken to a store and made to wait 90 minutes before being allowed to leave during the closure.
“The totally irresponsible youth of Westfield Marion caused public chaos and fear today…the impacts of their actions on the public cannot be undone,” Field wrote online.
‘You damned thoughtless and selfish people.’
Another person who was at Event Cinemas at the time criticized the cinema for sending an email asking if they had enjoyed their time at the cinema.
The email asked if the user could give feedback on their viewing of Inside Out 2.
“Super insensitive considering we are dealing with traumatized children who had to evacuate this session in a frantic stampede,” he wrote.
Police who arrived at the scene first canvassed the center and took shoppers to safety.
A worker who runs a food court restaurant said she no longer feels safe working in shopping centers.
Two people were injured during the evacuation, a woman in her 70s and another person in her 30s (not pictured)
