Shocking footage has emerged of the moment three armed boys confronted another group of teenagers at a Westfield shopping centre, locking down the mall 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 through the centre.
Footage of the incident, filmed by shoppers in the crowded food court, showed youths fighting before a group drew their weapons, which police said included extendable batons and possibly a knife.
Dozens of shocked shoppers looked on as others appeared oblivious to the chaos unfolding meters away.
Customers were immediately ordered to leave the locked shops or bunker down as the center began evacuation procedures, bringing back memories of the recent stabbing at Westfield Bondi Junction which claimed six innocent lives.
A manhunt was immediately launched for the armed teenagers, who remained on the run early Monday morning despite a public plea from police to hand themselves in.
Shoppers in Westfield Marion filmed a fight between two groups of teenagers that caused the mall to be locked down Sunday at 2:53 p.m.
Shoppers rushed into shuttered stores shared footage of the incident as it happened
Heavily armed police officers secured the Adelaide shopping center at 5pm and all remaining customers were allowed to leave
South Australian Police Assistant Commissioner Scott Duval said it did not appear the teens intended to harm bystanders.
‘The incident actually involved three boys who approached another group of boys. “We are not clear at this stage what the purpose of this is, but I emphasize that it does not appear to be a random attack and it does not appear that the three boys had any intention of attacking anyone else in the centre.” he said.
“So I encourage these guys to turn themselves in to the police. They may not have intended for this incident to happen, but they need to understand the consequences of their actions.”
Paramedics on scene treated a woman in her 70s with a shoulder injury and a person in her 30s with a knee injury.
Both were reportedly injured during the evacuation.
Deputy Commissioner Duval said three boys from the group that started the fight were armed with extendable batons. According to him, a knife may also have been used in the argument.
The two groups ran through the mall before arriving at David Jones, where bystanders said they saw a security guard giving chase.
Heavily armed officers from the Special Tasks and Rescue Group arrived shortly afterwards and began escorting shoppers to exits and safe locations.
Terrified families were among those caught up in the chaos
Hundreds of people were locked in the mall 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 ‘nervous as a rock’.
Hundreds of people sitting in closed stores shared photos of the experience online.
Several shoppers said the panic caused by the evacuation was more painful than the boys fighting.
“People were definitely panicking and running for all the exits,” said an eyewitness the advertiser said.
Another man who was there with his wife and eight-year-old son said his wife had become “nervous, so to speak” from being locked up in a sports shop.
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 tried to attack him and he ran away,” she said.
Shortly after the boys ran past her shop, Ms Dhaliwal said she saw a “breathless” security guard ordering everyone to evacuate immediately.
‘We were really scared. It is no longer safe to work in shopping centers, things like this could have been prevented,” she said.
Peter Scott, who worked at Shoe Express, said he saw “at least a hundred people rushing towards me” as shoppers tried to flee the area.
Three teenage boys were filmed in the food court as they approached another group before withdrawing their batons and beginning to chase them
South Australian Police Deputy Commissioner Scott Duval said despite the officer’s best efforts, they were unable to locate the teenagers who started the fight
A police spokesman said the mall was secured at 5pm and anyone still in the center was allowed to leave.
They added that the evacuation had been a success, despite officers being unable to locate the boys.
“As a result of the incident, center management activated an audible warning and evacuation alarm and the center was placed on lockdown,” police said.
‘Numerous police officers, including officers from the STAR Group, came to the center to start a search for the groups involved in the first disturbances.
“A thorough search of the center was carried out, including the roofs, but the groups involved were not found.”
Terry Field was celebrating a family member’s birthday when they were ushered into a store and made to wait 90 minutes before they could leave during the lockdown.
“Totally irresponsible youth at Westfield Marion today caused public chaos and fear… the impact of their actions on the public cannot be undone,” Field wrote online.
“Thoughtless, selfish things.”
Another person who was at Event Cinemas at the time criticized the cinema for sending an email asking how they were enjoying their time at the cinema.
The email asked if the customer could provide feedback on his view of Inside Out 2.
“Super insensitive considering we are dealing with traumatized children who had to evacuate in a panicked rush this session,” he wrote.
The police who arrived on the scene first went through the center and brought shoppers to safety
A worker who manages a restaurant in the food court said she no longer feels safe in malls
Two people were injured during the evacuation, a woman in her 70s and another person in her 30s (not pictured)