Police clear major shopping centre in Adelaide after fight involving youths

SA Police say the Westfield Marion shopping centre in suburban Adelaide was locked down this afternoon after reports of fighting between two groups of young males.

They say the centre’s management issued an evacuation alarm after reports some of the people involved had weapons, including expandable batons.

Police conducted a thorough search of the shopping centre but say they have not located either of the groups.

They say there is no ongoing threat to the community and they’ve been able to safely clear the centre.

Police say no one was hurt as a result of the altercation between the boys, but two people are believed to have been injured during the evacuation process.

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

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

SAAS said one of the patients is being transferred to the Flinders Medical Centre for treatment.

Authorities have erected fences around the shopping centre.

Wendy, who was locked down inside Woolworths while speaking to the ABC, said she was at the check-out getting ready to leave the store when the shutters came down. 

“There was an announcement saying there was an incident with weapons in the mall, and that the mall was in lockdown as a result,” she said.

“It was all pretty fast, the shutters came down really quickly, I didn’t even realise they were coming down because I was at the check-out and next thing I look up and the whole store was shut.

“The Woolworths staff have periodically updated us throughout the ordeal with information, but they don’t have a lot of information.”