Knife gang on run after fighting erupts at shopping centre
A GROUP of young men armed with knives who were involved in a violent incident in Derbion are on the run and being hunted by police.
Officers were called to the shopping centre at around noon on Monday after reports of a stabbing involving a number of armed men.
The force has confirmed that knives were involved, but that no arrests have yet been made.
However, patrols are being increased in and around Derbion and the city centre to find the culprits and reassure the public. Police officers are treating the matter as an isolated incident.
It is believed the violence involved a group of young men near to the entrance to JD Sports and Marks and Spencer on the second floor of the shopping centre. No update has been provided by officers on whether anyone was injured in the
incident. There were reports from people at the shopping centre that one man had been hurt.
Shoppers were left terrified as the gang of men, said to be armed with machetes, faced off.
Families hid in shops and stores pulled down shutters as the violent incident unfolded. One mother said she feared it was a terrorist incident. The fight is believed to have taken place at around noon.
A staff member at JD Sports said that they were made aware of an incident involving four people, with one stabbed. They said it took place outside the Marks & Spencer store on the second floor of Derbion.
Det Insp Nikki Gray said: “We received a report that a group of youths had been seen fighting with knives in the shopping centre, just before 12.10pm on Monday. Whilst I understand how scary this would have been for anyone working or shopping in Derby at that time, I’d like to reassure the public that we are treating this as an isolated incident.
“We have a dedicated team of detectives working to find those involved, and would ask that anyone with information contact us as this may help with our enquiries.”
Police have urged witnesses or anyone with information which may help enquiries to contact them via the non-emergency methods, quoting reference 458-180722.
Following the incident, Jade Sloan said: “We were visiting Derby and got caught up in this. I was downstairs near Specsavers when my friend called me and said get somewhere safe, there’s men with knives. She was locked in The Body Shop having seen two men running away and an elderly couple shouting they have big knives.
“I grabbed my youngest daughter and ran into Specsavers and asked them to lock the doors. My 12-year-old was in Claire’s Accessories and told them there were men with knives but they didn’t bring their shutters down.
“We didn’t know the shopping centre so I didn’t know how far away we were from what was happening and panicked.
“Specsavers were excellent. They looked after my youngest daughter while I ran to get my eldest and her friend. My eldest was having a panic attack and once we were safely back in Specsavers a lady called Natalie who worked there helped us out and got my daughter some water.”