Shoppers at a major Black Country retail complex witnessed a terrifying scene this afternoon as a violent attack, involving what was described as a 'samurai sword', unfolded in a busy food hall.
Chaos in the Food Court
The incident occurred at the Merry Hill shopping centre in Brierley Hill, Dudley, on Friday, November 28. According to eyewitness accounts, a group of three or four individuals, characterised as 'roadmen', came running through the Eat Central food hall.
A staff member from the Big Smoke restaurant located within the food hall provided a chilling account. "One guy was chasing and then he slashed another guy," they stated, confirming the violent nature of the event. Despite the alarm, the food hall reportedly remained open throughout and after the incident.
The witness testimony was corroborated by social media posts, with one woman reporting on X that a "guy was with a samari [sic] sword through Eat Central".
Emergency Response and Investigation
Emergency services were quickly dispatched to the scene. West Midlands Police confirmed they were alerted to a group of people 'armed with a weapon' at just after 3.30pm.
Shortly after, at 3.39pm, the West Midlands Ambulance Service arrived and treated one patient. A spokesperson confirmed, "He was treated for injuries not believed to be serious before being taken to hospital for further assessment." The victim was identified as a teenage male.
By the early evening, the scene at the shopping centre had returned to a striking normality. Shoppers resumed their Black Friday activities, with very little visible police presence remaining. A single police vehicle was spotted in a car park, but the investigation appeared to have moved elsewhere.
Official Statements and Public Reaction
Jonathan Poole, Centre Manager for Merry Hill, addressed the incident, stating: "We are aware of an incident that occurred in the centre this afternoon and we are assisting West Midlands Police with its investigation. Customer safety is our number one priority, and we work hard to ensure that Merry Hill remains a safe place to visit."
One shopper, 24-year-old Lindsey Gregory, expressed her dismay, saying she was "not surprised" by the violence. "You get so many teenagers here in big groups," she said. "It’s pretty disgusting that there’s violence at shops, where there’s kids and that, but I suppose that’s where we are."
West Midlands Police have appealed for information, asking anyone with details to contact them via Live Chat or by calling 101, quoting log number 3541 of 28/11/25.
