Chaos as fight breaks out at Darwin Woolworths

A group of about ten people have stormed a Woolworths, with disturbing footage showing one man running towards others with a knife.

Disturbing footage has captured the moment a huge fight believed to be between warring families broke out at a Woolworths in Darwin’s CBD.

In the video, which was posted on Facebook, a large window can be seen smashed and at one point a man runs towards others with a knife.

The raucous group first stormed the shopping centre, where one man jumped the counter of a small cafe opposite the supermarket. He then appeared to emerge with at least one large knife.

The scuffle then moved into the self-service checkout area of Woolworths before drifting further into the supermarket as loud alarms sounded.

Yelling, banging and glass smashing could be heard in the video. A red liquid covered the floor outside the cafe.

Police said a group of up to 10 people, some armed with “edged weapons”, were involved in the “disturbance” at the supermarket on Tuesday afternoon.

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A man could be seen running towards others with a knife in the video uploaded to social media.

A 16-year-old was arrested at the scene and is expected to be charged with being armed in public, engaging in violent conduct, possessing a Schedule 2 drug and breach of bail.

Police are working to identify the others involved.

Witness Claire Ross, who runs the pharmacy in the centre, told ABC Radio Darwin her staff saw one person armed with a weapon that looked like a machete.

“As I was closing the roller doors [to the adjacent pharmacy] people from outside were trying to run into the pharmacy for their own safety, they were really fearful for their lives,” Ms Ross said.

“One of the gentlemen with a red wine bottle went to fling it at people and I was hoping he wouldn’t fling it at us.

“There was only so much [security] could do. It wasn’t worth risking their own lives.”

A window outside the supermarket was shown smashed in the video but it is unknown when the damage occurred.

Another witness said shoppers ran and hid in the aisles.

“Customers were screaming and there were a whole heap of people hiding in the bakery but to tell you the truth no where was safe,” she told Mix104.9.

Superintendent James O’Brien said: “This appears to have been an escalation of a dispute between family groups. We are speaking with witnesses and are aware of a video of the incident posted to social media.”

No injuries were reported.

A Woolworths spokesman said the company was continuing to assist police with their inquiries.

“Our Darwin City store team responded calmly and quickly to the unfolding incident,” he said.

Anyone who has video or witnessed the incident is urged to contact police on 131 444 and quote reference 10070979.