Shocking footage shows the moment a man starts swinging a machete in the middle of a busy park as families scream in horror.
Merseyside Police were called to Newsham Park, Tuebrook at around 2.50pm on Sunday, May 21, after receiving reports a man was seen with a knife. Newsham Park was full of young children and families who were enjoying the 20C weather.
The footage, recorded by a man in the park at the time of the incident, shows two men in blue tops running in the middle of the park while shouting at somebody off camera. During the altercation you can hear families screaming for their children to come to them in horror.
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One woman shouts: "Get here now, now." while the man recording said: "Bladed up in the park in the middle of the day, f*****g nuggets."
At one point you see the man who is holding the blade swing it backwards and forwards next to a group of people sat on the grass.
One witness said: "We just witnessed a guy pull out a machete-style knife and chase someone over the skate park trying to stab them. The skate park was full of young kids enjoying the sunshine.
"I've never been so frightened in my life. Who on earth is carrying a weapon like this to the park?" The witness added the blade "must have been at least 13 or 14 inches long."
Officers attended Newsham Park following the incident yesterday afternoon. Witnesses said the police were on the scene in minutes. A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "Officers searched the area and saw no evidence of any weapons or disorder in the area."
Last week marked Operation Sceptre - a national campaign to tackle knife crime and make communities safer. The week saw enhanced activity including weapons sweeps, open land searches, stop searches and community outreach with young people and partners.
In Merseyside, January 2023 saw the lowest level of knife crime since April 2020 and the lowest level of serious violence since February 2021. But the area has been devastated by isolated incidents of extreme violence, including five gun murders, and the knife killing of 12-year-old Ava White by a teenage boy in November 2021.
Detective Sergeant Andy Uren said: "Reducing knife crime in Merseyside is a priority for the force all year round. Both serious violence and knife crime are falling in Merseyside, but we know there is still work to do. Our officers will immediately respond to any incidents of knife crime and are committed in removing anyone who stores, carries and uses weapons through proactive use of stop and search powers, open land searches, warrants and education work alongside partners.
"We will continue to seek out those involved in knife crime, enticing young and vulnerable people to carry weapons or involved in gangs, but we also need your support. Any information you have about knife crime in your area, will help us tackle these issues head on, and work with partners to understand the root causes of knife crime, carrying a weapon and serious violence, so please contact police."
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