Horrified parents were left scrambling with their kids when a man pulled out a machete at a busy skate park.
The man was seen brandishing the weapon at Newsham in Liverpool at 2.50pm on Sunday, May 21. Police confirmed to the Liverpool Echo they they were investigating the incident after receiving numerous reports.
One eyewitness told how the man was chasing another person around the facility in his attempt to "stab them".
They 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 from Merseyside Police raced to the park yesterday afternoon, with witnesses stating cops arrived at the scene within minutes.
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "Officers searched the area and saw no evidence of any weapons or disorder in the area."
Inspector Laura Leach, deputy lead for Serious Violence and Knife Crime, 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.
"This surrender, alongside increased proactive policing, 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."
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.