Armed police arrest five people after a knife point robbery in Birmingham City Centre

Five people were arrested after a disorder involving a group of young men with knives in Birmingham city centre near House of Fraser.

Within minutes of the 999 call at 7.55pm on January 18 West Midlands Police officers, including one of their dogs teams and firearms officers, were at the location in Cherry Street.

West Midlands Police said: “We understood that as well as young men seen with knives, one person had been robbed of a bag. By 8.08pm we had arrested three people and a further two were detained by 10.20pm.”

Two teenagers aged 16, and three men, aged 20, 24 and 25, arrested on suspicion of robbery remain in custody as their enquiries continue.

Earlier on January 18, a 13-year-old boy was stabbed near the ramp leading to Stephenson Place by Grand Central. The boy was treated on the spot and taken to hospital for further treatments. It is not known if the two incidents are connected.

The police stepped up patrols in the City Centre and put temporary Section 60 powers in place until January 19 night.

The police are appealing for information and you can contact them via Live Chat on West Midlands Police website or by calling 101, quoting investigation 20/101079/23. If you prefer to remain anonymous, call independent charity Crimestoppers about what you know, not who you are, on 0800 555 111.