A man who allegedly attempted to abduct a five-year-old child in Civic on Saturday afternoon has been arrested.
Police were called to Petrie Plaza, the pedestrian thoroughfare which connects Bunda Street and London Circuit, about 1pm on Saturday.
The man is alleged to have run towards a laneway holding the child. The child's parents and members of the public chased after him.
Police said in a statement the man let go of the child and dropped a knife, before he was restrained by members of the public.
Police arrested the man and he was taken to the ACT Watch House.
Police have urged anyone with information of video footage of the incident to contact Crime Stoppers by phoning 1800 333 000, quoting reference number 6608728.
Information can be provided anonymously, police said.
