Man, 19, arrested after stabbing at Merry Hill shopping centre
A man has been arrested after another man was stabbed at Merry Hill shopping centre in Brierley Hill.
Officers were called to the centre at around 11.15am on Saturday.
The victim was taken by ambulance to hospital to be treated for his injury. Police say his condition is not known at this stage.
The stabbing happened on the upper mall near M&S and a 19-year-old man was arrested at the centre.
Detective Inspector Tom Hadley of West Midlands Police said: “Enquires are on-going but we are treating this as an isolated incident between two people and we are not seeking anyone else in connection with this. Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
A councillor who works at the centre described what she witnessed.
Brierley Hill ward councillor Serena Craigie is assistant store manager at an opticians close to where the incident happened.
She said: "I first saw the police running down the aisle outside the store, then I saw paramedics going by with a defibrillator.
"They then started to close off stores around the entrance to Marks & Spencer.
"When I saw the defibrillator I knew it was serious so, as ward councillor, went outside to ask the police what was happening.
"They told me the men were unknown to them."
She said an air ambulance landed at the shopping centre.
Councillor Craigie added: "This is the first time I've seen an incident like this in the 20-odd years I've worked here.
"People have been coming in the shop obviously shaken over what has happened. The mood has been very subdued."
Shops - including HMV, Mark & Spencer, Krispy Kreme and Two Seasons - remained closed along with a section of the upper floor at the centre.
H&M's upper entrance was closed but the store could still be accessed from the ground floor.
Another worker at a nearby shop, who did not want to be named, said: "I heard screams and we get a lot of kids playing, and I thought it was just that.
"But I realised it was different when the screaming did not stop.
"Then we found out it was a stabbing, it was just terrible."
A statement from the shopping centre said:
"West Midlands Police responded to an incident at intu Merry Hill this morning. The emergency services responded immediately and one individual has been taken to hospital for treatment.
"The matter is now in the hands of the police and we will be supporting their investigation in every way we can.
"The centre is open as usual, however some stores are closed due to the incident."
