Terrifying machete incident in Sydney

Residents in Sydney say a man armed with a machete started threatening people on the streets.

Police have a arrested a man who allegedly terrified residents on the streets of Sydney’s inner-west with a machete on Saturday morning.

Witnesses told news.com.au that at around 11am a man on Marion St, Leichhardt allegedly tried to attack another man with the weapon as he was walking along the street, before allegedly slashing at another person who defended themselves with a backpack.

One witness told news.com.au the passerby who was first approached by the man fell to the ground but managed to get away unharmed.

They claimed another person was walking along the street with a backpack and the man allegedly tried slash at them with the weapon, resulting in the passerby holding the backpack in front of him to protect himself.

Police were quickly at the scene. Picture: Makiah Copeman

The man was taken by police. Picture: Makiah Copeman

Witnesses allege the man then ran inside a mechanic store and locked himself inside.

They say a riot squad came and were negotiating with the man through a loud speaker. They say that, eventually, he came out and was taken away by police.

Another witness told news.com.au she was driving to the shops when she saw a man “come out with a machete”.

“He was chasing another man, saying, ‘get back here’ and swinging the machete at the guy, and then chasing other people, and then cut (someone’s) bag open,” she said.

“The older man (the one he initially targeted) was running, dodging traffic to get help off other people. We called the police, and same with everyone else, I suppose, and then they were here very quickly.”

A witness who lives near the man taken in by police said she had just gotten back from walking the dog and there were “police everywhere blocking the street”.

“Police and the riot squad came through our house when they were still trying to locate him,” she said.

There was a heavy police presence. Picture: Ally Foster

Riot squads were at the scene. Picture: Ally Foster

“He is well-known on the street and there are multiple times he has been heard yelling and sounds of smashing bottles late at night. We have previously called the police on him due to these disturbances.”

NSW Police said in a statement: “A man has been arrested following a police operation in Leichhardt earlier today.

“Officers attached to Leichhardt Police Area Command were called to the scene about 10.35am after reports a man threatened people with a machete before he ran into a building.

“A perimeter was established and – with assistance provided by specialist resources – an operation was initiated to locate the man.

“The man was arrested without incident about 12.30pm and was taken to Newtown Police Station and is assisting police with enquiries. Inquiries are continuing.”

Buses were diverted after Marion Street was closed between Cromwell and Elswick streets.