Knife and flare chaos erupts at Joondalup shopping centre
A knife-wielding man set two flares at a suburban shopping centre and tried to steal a ride-share vehicle before he was arrested by police.
An allegedly knife-wielding man has rampaged through a suburban shopping centre, setting off flares and attempting to steal a ride-share vehicle before his arrest.
Detectives in Joondalup, in Perth’s north, have charged a 29-year-old over the incident, which happened on Thursday afternoon.
Police allege a Banksia Grove man attempted to steal a ride-share vehicle outside the Lakeside Joondalup shopping centre, before setting off a flare which damaged the car.
He then allegedly stormed into the shopping centre and set off a second flare.
Throughout the incident the man was allegedly in possession of a knife.
Security guards and civilians detained the man before police arrived to arrest him.
One security guard was injured during the man’s apprehension.
Dramatic footage from the citizen’s arrest showed at least four security guards holding him down, assisted by at least three bystanders.
At one point, a metal clang rang out from something dropping to the floor, one of the men then shouted: “Get the knife.”
The alleged offender was wearing a heavy grey and navy jacket with a black and white backpack.
The knife-wielder suffered a cut to his hand and was taken to hospital by ambulance.
The arrested man was later charged with five offences, including attempted aggravated robbery, carried or possessed an edged weapon, and criminal damage or destruction of property.
He was set to appear before Joondalup Magistrates Court on Friday.
Any witnesses have been urged to submit footage of the incident to WA Police.
Witnesses took to social media to share what they saw.
“I went there after 4pm and the whole place was full of smoke and cops everywhere,” said one person.
Pictures from the incident show the shopping centre filled with an orange mist.
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