‘What is this world coming to’: Knife-wielding man arrested at Taylors Lakes shopping centre
A man who allegedly stole a knife and is accused of using it to threaten people at Watergardens Shopping Centre on Friday has been remanded in custody until his next court date.
Police & Courts
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A man has faced court after he allegedly assaulted and threatened a pair at a major Melbourne shopping centre.
Matthias Hanssens, 30, fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Saturday after he was charged with armed criminal intent, theft, making threats to kill and two counts of unlawful assault.
Mr Hanssens, from Delahey, was wearing a blue top as he sat in the court dock.
His lawyer said it was his first time in custody and he had “some mental health conditions”.
Mr Hanssens made no application for bail and was remanded to appear at Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on May 14.
The charges come after Mr Hanssens allegedly stole a knife from a grocery store at Watergardens Shopping Centre in Taylors Lakes on Friday.
He allegedly used the weapon to assault and threaten a 21-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman about 12.50pm.
With assistance from the public, Mr Hanssens was arrested and then later charged.
It is understood terrified shoppers ran from the scene and locked themselves inside shops before the centre was placed into lockdown.
One shopper told the Herald Sun the man allegedly confronted a group of people inside a barbershop before he was tackled and pinned to the ground by a group of “heroes”.
“He was in the barber shop and then was (allegedly) walking with a knife in front of him,” she said.
“The barbers ran out with chairs and managed to hold him down until the cops came.
“The shops all closed and locked everyone inside. The cops still have him barricaded and secure.”
Others said people fled the area and were locked inside the stores until his arrest.
“I was there and ran out, what is this world coming to,” Jane Farrugia Parnis wrote on Facebook.
“My friend (was) locked in Hairhouse Warehouse back room”, Cass Carter said online.
Watergardens management declined to comment on the incident.
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