An middle-aged man who allegedly terrorised a quiet Sydney street by threatening people with a machete has been charged.
Police and paramedics rushed to Marion Street in Leichhardt, in Sydney’s inner-west, at about 10.35am on Saturday after receiving reports the man was brandishing a large blade at locals before he ran into a building.
The 54-year-old man was later arrested without incident following a tense stand-off with tactical police.
He was on Saturday night charged with four offences including armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, attempted stalk/intimidation with intent to create fear of harm, common assault and affray.
Terrified residents alleged several passerbys had lucky escapes with one man falling to the ground before managing to get away unharmed.
One resident on the street alleged he had a ‘big sword’.
‘He almost nearly hit a guy with it but the guy pushed him away,’ she told Nine News.
A 54-year-old man has been charged after allegedly threatening people on a Sydney street with a machete
The incident caused a major police operation including tactical officers
Another described a passer-by defending himself with his bag.
‘Then another person was walking along the street with a backpack and he tried slash at them and the man held is backpack in front of him to protect himself,’ a terrified witness told news.com.au.
The man allegedly ran inside a mechanic store and briefly barricaded himself inside while members of the riot squad started negotiations using a large loudspeaker.
The man eventually came out and was ‘grabbed’ by police officers.
Another witness alleged the man had been holding a ‘large machete’.
‘He was chasing another man, saying, ‘get back here’ and swinging the machete at the guy, and then chasing other people, and then cut (someone’s) bag open,’ she told the publication.
Police were at one point heard negotiating with the man using a large megaphone
The riot squad attended the incident at about 10.35am on Saturday
NSW Police said a man had been arrested following a police operation in Leichhardt.
‘A perimeter was established and – with assistance provided by specialist resources – an operation was initiated to locate the man,’ police said.
‘The man was arrested without incident about 12.30pm and was taken to Newtown Police Station and is assisting police with enquiries.’
A man from Leichhardt has been charged following a police operation on Saturday
The man is seen being led away by police in handcuffs following the incident
The man was assessed by paramedics at the scene.
Buses were diverted for up to an hour when Marion Street was closed between Cromwell Street and Elswick Street.
Investigations into the incident are continuing.
The man from Leichhardt has been refused bail to appear in Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday.
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