Westfield shopping center in Adelaide was locked down after reports a man was seen with a weapon.
South Australian police confirmed an “incident” was taking place, with “multiple patrols in attendance”.
Armed police were seen running around the center and shoppers described emergency alerts and shutters down in stores.
“My partner and I were in David Jones near the jewelery section and we heard someone over the Westfield (speakers) say ‘this is urgent,'” one shopper told 9News Adelaide.
“Then we heard it again and we’ve never heard anything like it.
“The next minute the doors fell off David Jones.”
The shopper said she saw a security guard running up the escalators.
A photo posted on X by Nico Nakuze shows a screen at a Westfield shopping center with the message “Armed trespasser. Run, hide, tell”.
Nakuze said they were “evacuating everyone”.
“At this time, police are advising the public to stay away from the area,” police said in a statement.
“A further update will be provided as it becomes known.”
The shopping center is one of the largest in South Australia and contains more than 340 stores.
Marion is a suburb about 10 kilometers south-west of Adelaide city centre.
