Newcastle Police are eager to speak with two women and a man after unconfirmed reports of a serious incident at Waratah Shopping Village on Thursday afternoon.
Officers were called to the scene around 2.40pm and quickly closed entries and exits to the centre after reports a person had been seen armed with a knife in a public bathroom, and that a child may have been present when the knife was produced.
Detective Chief Inspector Scott Parker later said that, following a review of the scene and of CCTV footage, it was unclear whether that incident had occurred, and that it could not be confirmed whether any person had been injured in any way.
Police have since appealed for two women who were said to be in the company of a man to come forward as they may be able to assist police with their inquiries.
The women, who have been described as being in their mid-30s wearing distinctive full-length dresses in the company of a heavily tattooed man also believed to be in his 30s and wearing black shorts only, apparently entered the Liquorland store at Waratah Village around 2.40pm and claimed to have seen a person in the public bathroom armed with a knife, Det. Chief Insp. Parker said.
"I would particularly appeal to those people to contact CrimeStoppers," Det. Chief Insp. Parker said. "It's quite likely they hold the key to this being unraveled. And certainly we want to either confirm or refute whether there was anything that occurred here today."
Officers remained on the scene until around 4pm, speaking with shoppers and staff. Anyone with information regarding this incident has been urged to contact Police or CrimeStoppers.
