Police respond to ‘incident’ at Westfield Marion Shopping Centre in Adelaide

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South Australia Police said a group of brawling men led to a lockdown at the Marion Shopping Centre in Westfield, southwest Adelaide, on Sunday afternoon.

The police received reports that there had been “a fight between two groups of young men in the catering area of ​​the center.”

“Some members of the group are said to possess weapons,” the statement said.

“As a result of the incident, the center management triggered an audible alarm and an evacuation alarm and the center was sealed off.”

South African police said they had deployed numerous police forces, including officers from the STAR Group, in the search for the two groups.

“The centre was searched thoroughly, including the roofs, but the groups involved could not be located,” police said.

“Several shoppers who sought refuge in shops were safely escorted out of the center.”

“Police are confident there is no ongoing threat to the community.”

Numerous patrols are on site and the police are asking the public to avoid the area.

The SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) told ABC that paramedics were treating two patients with non-life-threatening injuries.

A woman in her 70s suffered a shoulder injury and a person in her 30s suffered a knee injury, SAAS said.

SAAS said one of the patients would be transferred to Flinders Medical Centre for treatment.

The authorities have erected fences around the shopping center.

Wendy, who was locked inside Woolworths while speaking to ABC, said she was at the checkout and was preparing to leave the store when the shutters came down.

“There was an announcement that there had been a weapons incident at the mall and that the mall had been cordoned off,” she said.

“It all happened pretty quickly, the shutters went down really quickly, I didn’t even notice them going down because I was at the checkout and when I looked up the whole store was closed.

“Woolworths staff have been providing us with regular updates throughout this ordeal, but they don’t have a lot of information.”

The incident occurred several months after six people were killed in a stabbing at a Sydney shopping centre.

– ABC with RNZ