Police were forced to break up a crowd of around '100' young people on Monday afternoon, who had begun gathering in the Arndale shopping mall after a teenage boy was arrested on suspicion of robbery.
The incident, caught by shocked bystanders on camera, sees a huge number of teenagers gathering outside the Ernest Jones shop on the first floor of the centre, with officers and security staff then having to intervene to split up the chaos.
It has since been confirmed that a total of five teenagers were arrested at the scene before the crowd dispersed. One was arrested on suspicion of robbery, with three boys and a teenage girl taken into custody on suspicion of a public order offence.
Greater Manchester Police have said they had initially been notified of a robbery involving a male, close to the food court, at around 5pm. As officers searched one 17-year-old who matched the description, he broke free and ran away before he was detained a short time later.
As he was being arrested, a group of around 100 people then gathered around the officers, who were detaining the male on suspicion of robbery, escaping lawful custody and public order offences. Enquiries are understood to be ongoing, with the victim of the robbery being supported by specialist officers.
In the video clip, 'move back' can be heard being shouted as security officers try to calm down the situation and police detain the 17-year-old boy.
A spokesperson for the force said: "At around 5.05pm on Monday (17 October) we were alerted to a report of a robbery near the food court in the Arndale Centre, Manchester.
"A suspect matching the description of the offender was being searched by an officer before he broke free and ran away before quickly being detained again a short time later.
"A group of around 100 people began to gather around the officers as a 17-year-old boy was being arrested on suspicion of robbery, escaping lawful custody and public order offences.
"The group later dispersed when further resources were brought in. Three other 17-year-old boys were taken to custody and a teenage girl was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence.
"Enquiries are ongoing and the victim of the robbery is being supported and updated as our investigation continues."
An Arndale spokesperson added: "We can confirm that there was an incident at the Centre on Monday 17 th October involving an altercation between a number of young people. We immediately attended the scene and the Police were called. Greater Manchester Police attended and the incident is now closed.”
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