This is the moment a teenager was arrested earlier after police swarmed the Arndale Centre over reports of kids with a knife. The drama unfolded at around 5pm this evening.
Police raced to the shopping centre after receiving reports a group of youngsters who had a blade in their possession. A large number of officers responded with around half a dozen police vans and cars parked outside the mall's Exchange Square entrance.
Eyewitnesses described seeing officers sprinting through the centre's main entrance doors with shouting and screaming coming from inside after violence is said to have erupted.
READ MORE: LIVE updates: Police swarm Arndale Centre after reports of youngster with a knife
Shortly afterwards, officers could be seen running towards a boy who was stood near the Exchange Square tram stop.
They grabbed him and handcuffed him before leading him towards a police van. Officers could be heard to say that he was being arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.
A shop worker said staff had earlier had a message through their radios warning of “young people possibly carrying knives." “Within minutes the police were here screaming at them to get on the ground and they were handcuffed and taken away," she said.
A picture from inside the centre showed three young people face down on the floor of the upper mall with officers standing over them.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have confirmed five teenagers have now been arrested, all on suspicion of violent disorder, following the incident.
GMP's City Centre division said on Twitter: "At 5pm we've responded to reports of, children with a knife, in the Arndale Centre. Five males, around 14 year- old, have been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder, they remain in police custody.
"Thankfully, no one was hurt or injured during this incident."
The force said officers would remain at the centre for the time being whilst enquiries into the incident are carried out.
Police remain at the scene this evening whilst Aarndale security have also seen patrolling the area where the trouble flared.
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