At least half a dozen teenagers were involved in the terrifying brawl

One family thought the shopping centre was being attacked by terrorists

A group of knife-wielding teenagers sparked fears of an ISIS-style terrorist attack on a busy London shopping centre forcing shocked bargain hunters to run for their lives trampling over small children to escape the area.

At least half-a-dozen youths were involved in a mass brawl inside a shoe shop within intu shopping centre in Bromley, Kent.

Families feared they were 'sitting ducks' for a terrorist attacks, with children trampled under foot as terrified shoppers ran from the altercation.

Panicked shoppers, pictured, ran for their lives after they spotted a man brandishing a large machete

Armed police have been called to intu shopping centre in Bromley after reports of a man seen holding a machete. Images shared on social networks show officers holding a sizeable blade which they are placing in the back of a marked police van

The terrifying incident happened outside the Aldo store at intu shopping centre in Bromley, Kent

Staff ushered customers though the store rooms at the rear of the individual shops and away from the public areas of the shopping centre.

Unarmed police were first at the scene and arrested a teenage boy on suspicion of affray and possession of an offensive weapon.

Two knives, including a rusty two-foot machete were recovered from the scene.

One caller to LBC called Marina said people were trampling over children to escape from what they thought was a terrorist attack.

'We were in the Disney store. He heard the people screaming, running and shouting. We got trampled on, my children got trampled on.

'We were just really scared, we were running for our lives. We had to go out of the back of the stock room in the Disney store, and then we came to a dead end and there was no way out.'

She said she they were eventually led into another stockroom and out to the main car park where they 'ran for their lives'.

Music producer Ryan Louder wrote on Facebook that he saw 'hundreds of people panicking running out of the shopping centre' .

He said staff in the Apple Store were telling people to 'get into the back'.

Video recorded inside the mall and posted online shows terrified shoppers running for the exit after an incident believed to have taken place inside one of the stores

Police arrested a man at the scene, pictured left in both frames, and led him away in handcuffs

Armed police have been called to intu shopping centre in Bromley after reports claimed to see a man seen holding a machete (stock photograph)

He claimed; 'The back had no exit and we were essentially sitting ducks to what we all thought was a terrorist attack.

'It was just terrifying because until we were out of shopping centre everyone convinced there were gunman ploughing through shopping centre. That experience won't leave me quickly unfortunately.'

Video recorded inside the mall and posted online shows terrified shoppers running for the exit after an incident believed to have taken place inside one of the stores.

They were filmed stampeding for the doors amid confusion whether the man was carrying a blade or even armed with a gun.

Another clip shows officers holding a sizeable blade which they placed n the back of a marked police van.

Police conformed the incident was not terrorism related although panicked shoppers feared for their lives

According to the Metropolitan Police: 'Detectives are appealing for information and witnesses following an altercation between a number of youths at a shopping centre in Bromley.

'Police were called at 15:45hrs to reports of an injured youth at intu Bromley.

'Officers attended the scene and found the boy with a minor head injury. At this stage officers believe he sustained the injury as a result of an altercation between a number of youths.

'The injured boy has been arrested for affray and possession of an offensive weapon. He currently remains in custody at a south London police station.

'Two knives were recovered at the scene.

'Detectives are seeking to trace approximately six youths who ran off from the scene shortly after the incident. This is not believed to be terrorism related.

'Enquires continue. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is asked to contact police on 101.'

One video showed two officers wearing stab vests leading a suspect away with handcuffs behind his back.

The Aldo shop on the ground floor of the centre has been cordoned off.

There are no clear signs of people injured.

The Metropolitan Police said one man in his 20s has been taken to a south London police station where he is being questioned on suspicion of affray and possession of an offensive weapon.

Twitter user @keefmoon posted online that he saw at least one injured man being escorted out of the centre

App developer Keith Moon was in the shopping centre with his wife when he saw the panic develop.

He said: 'We could see people running towards the exit, it wasn't quite clear what it was at first. But then they seemed to be running in panic.

'My wife heard someone say that there was a gunman running around so we ran towards the exit.

'We got outside and there were a lot of people, some quite emotional.'

After about 20 minutes Mr Moon and his wife walked around to another of the centre's entrances and walked in to find police officers leading away the man in handcuffs.

He said: 'We walked back in and saw the police leading a young guy in handcuffs away. One of the policemen was holding a machete around 2ft long. It was really, really rusty - it didn't look clean.

'The young kid was bleeding from his head.

'We ventured further into the Glade and the shoe shop Aldo was cordoned off and you can see stuff has been knocked over and I think there was a little bit of blood.'

Displays of make up were destroyed as panicked shoppers ran for their lives fearing a terrorist

Mr Moon described the panicked scenes as shoppers fled and said his wife feared it was a terror attack.

She said: 'It was really chaotic, especially given recent events it was pretty scary. My wife was concerned it could be a terrorist attack. It was definitely a concern. And when you find out it is a guy with a machete and you don't know the reason why, that is scary.'

They confirmed the man sustained a 'minor' head injury.

Scotland Yard asked anyone who witnessed the incident or has video to come forward and pass it on to them.

London Ambulance Service told Sky News they treated one woman at the scene.

She was not taken to hospital.

Nelson Adeosun, 27, who works in television, said: 'It was really busy because of the Boxing Day sales and there was a mass exodus of people on the ground floor. They were shouting and running.

'We ran down and we heard that somebody had pulled a knife.'

Mr Adeosun, who was out shopping with his brother, said he feared for his life as he ran out of the building.

He said: 'People were running, some with children, and they were dropping stuff. It was a stampede.

'Literally the whole place was evacuated in a couple of minutes.'

Witness Ceri Harlin, 18, told the Evening Standard: 'A police van pulled up and officers went running inside.

'Security and three or four police officers have handcuffed a man and the police officer is carrying the huge knife.