Armed police were called to intu Bromley yesterday afternoon (December 26) after reports of a man with a machete.

Video posted online shows terrified shoppers running for the exits of the shopping centre, while further images show a police officer with a large blade.

Video: Mario Kondas

A boy who was injured in the incident, which happened outside Aldo shortly after 3.30pm, has been arrested.

Police are seeking six youths who fled the scene.

Two knives have also been recovered by police.

Mario Kondas, 22, was at the shopping centre with his partner when he suddenly saw people running.

He told News Shopper: "I thought something was about to explode. I didn't actually know what was going on. The screaming just got louder and louder.

"It was a terrifying experience just seeing all the people running for their lives.

"My other half that's 30 weeks pregnant got pushed over as well. It was horrible."

35-year-old app developer Keith Moon also witnessed people fleeing the shopping centre.

He later saw a man bleeding from the head being led away by police, who were carrying a two foot-long rusty machete.

He said: “It was really chaotic, especially given recent events, it was pretty scary.

"My wife was concerned it could be a terrorist attack. It was definitely a concern.

"And when you find out it is a guy with a machete and you don’t know the reason why, that is scary.” 

Ryan Louder wrote on Facebook: "Terrifying, horrible experience at Intu Bromley seeing hundreds of panicking people running out of shopping centre.

"Staff freaking out, telling us to get into the back only to find the back had no exit and we were essentially sitting ducks to what we all thought was a terrorist attack.

"Luckily left that and went out fire exit. Horrible seems to be more a man walked into [a shop] with a machete."

@HomeboyHotel added on Twitter: "What the f*** happened in Bromey? People running out of the Glades, people screaming."

News Shopper:

Shoppers outside Aldo. Photo: @BromleyohDear

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "We were called at 3.45pm on Saturday, December 26, to reports of an injured youth at intu Bromley.

"Officers attended the scene and found the boy with a minor head injury.

"At this stage officers believe he sustained the injury as a result of an altercation between a number of youths.

"The injured boy has been arrested for affray and possession of an offensive weapon. He currently remains in custody at a south London police station.

"Two knives were recovered at the scene.

"Detectives are seeking to trace approximately six youths who ran off from the scene shortly after the incident."

Police have confirmed the incident was not terrorism related.

London Ambulance Service said they treated a woman at the scene, who was not taken to hospital.

Bromley Police tweeted: "Police are aware of an incident that has taken place in Bromley, and that enquiries are ongoing."

intu Bromley added: "We can confirm that Police were called today to an alleged incident in our centre. The centre is open and trading until 6pm."

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is asked to contact police on 101.

Did you see what happened? Contact the news desk at patrickgg@london.newsquest.co.uk