Major update after armed teenagers plunge Adelaide Westfield into lockdown

Adelaide's largest shopping centre was plunged into lockdown on Sunday afternoon after reports of an armed offender on the premises. 

Two teenagers have been arrested and charged after a brawl in Westfield Marion on Sunday afternoon.

On Sunday afternoon, Adelaide’s largest shopping centre was plunged into lockdown after reports of an “armed offender” on the premises. 

At 3pm, thre boys allegedly approached another group of young boys at the shopping centre, armed with “expandable batons”.

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Armed police have swarmed the shopping centre at Marion. Photo: NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Teens arrested after plunging Westfield into emergency lockdown

A fight shortly broke out at the food court, sparking panic across the shopping centre. 

South Australian Police Assistant Commissioner Scott Duval confirmed there was a scuffle at the shopping centre, with reports of one teen carrying a knife. 

RELATED: ‘This is not a random attack’: Police search for three boys amid Westfield evacuation

“These three boys chased the other boys through the centre, and through the CCTV we were able to see they entered the David Jones store, and that was the first part of our focus of where we put our specialist attention, to start clearing the centre to ensure the safety of all people could be ensured,” he said. 

Following reports of the incident, Westfield launched its emergency lockdown and evacuation process; alarms blared through the shopping centre, doors were locked, and signs informed shoppers to “escape, hide, tell” from the danger. 

Shortly after the reports, heavily armed specialist tactical officers stormed the Westfield shopping centre.

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Despite their best efforts and a “thorough search” of the area, including on the roof of the shopping centre, the police could not track down the teens responsible for the altercation. 

While the intentions of the attack remain unclear, Duval said “it’s clear from the vision that this is not a random attack.”

“The boys would appear to be known to each other, but obviously, we’re still in the early days of investigation of the incident,” he added. 

Following an investigation, two boys, aged 15 and 16, were arrested and charged with assault, affray and aggravated robbery. 

Police have seized the expandable batons, and the boys will appear in Adelaide Youth Court on Monday afternoon. Police will continue searching for the other outstanding suspects. 

Duval said police knew the identity of a third assailant, but they are waiting for him to turn himself in. 

“His identity is known, and at some point, we will catch up with him,” he said. 

RELATED: Adelaide Westfield in lockdown as police pursue ‘armed offender’

Shoppers were evacuated in the Adelaide shopping centre. Picture: NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

“It’s so scary – for it to happen in Adelaide after what happened in Sydney”

Locals were terrified by the sight, frightened they were caught in a situation similar to the Bondi massacre. 

“It’s so scary – for it to happen in Adelaide after what happened in Sydney is terrifying,” a shopper told The Adelaide Advertiser.

Another local said she was “waiting for something like this to happen since Sydney.” 

A witness described the scene as it happened. “I saw a group of teenage boys, also known as eshays, one of them threw a chair and then another kid whipped out a baton,” they said. 

“No one was hit, no knives were involved, nothing. 

“Unfortunately, this isn’t uncommon, but chairs are thrown in the food court all the time. They all ran off when we were told to evacuate.” 

Two people were injured during the Adelaide altercation, including a 77yo woman who reportedly fell over and suffered a fracture.

"I also understand there was a young girl around the age of 14 who again might have been injured," Duval said. 

Originally published as Major update after armed teenagers plunge Adelaide Westfield into lockdown