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A shopper was knifed in front of horrified children and families in the middle of a busy shopping centre this afternoon.

A knife-wielding man allegedly stabbed his victim outside a shop in London's biggest shopping centre, surrounded by children and families on days out during the school summer holidays.

The young victim, aged in his 20s, was assaulted in the middle of the day and was rushed to hospital.

Witnesses saw two men fleeing the "tense" scene as an air ambulance was spotted flying above the busy shopping centre.

Police and security officials are currently at the scene, where the entire ground floor is locked off.

(Image: PA)

Scotland Yard confirmed to Mirror Online that a man, aged in his 20s, was stabbed at the centre, near Shepherd's Bush tube station.

Witness Alessandro Mascellino, 25, who works as a manager in one of the Westfield stores, said he became panicked when he saw policemen running through the centre.

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"There was quite a commotion and I tried to ask policeman what was happening but they said they couldn't tell me," he said.

"There were about three or four groups of policemen. One eventually told me there had been an altercation.

"I saw paramedics as well, but no-one knew what was going on. People were confused and panicking. The ground floor is still blocked off but the centre is open.”

(Image: Twitter/@mashimself)

(Image: Twitter/@mashimself)

He added that this time of year is particularly busy with families at this time of year.

Other witnesses also took to social media to comment on the stabbing.

One young woman wrote on Twitter: "Someone's been stabbed outside our store in Westfield."

Another user tweeted: "Altercation in Westfield London. Police isolated part of the mall as witnesses allegedly saw a man with a knife."

And one employee said: "Someone got stabbed in Westfield White City. Right underneath my store."

(Image: Twitter/@AmunetUchiha)

Two people have been arrested in relation to the incident, the Metropolitan Police confirmed.

A statement said: "Police were called at approximately 2pm on Friday, August 5 to reports of a man stabbed at Westfield Shopping Centre.

(Image: Twitte/@AmunetUchiha)

"Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and discovered a man, aged in his 20s, suffering stab injuries.

"He has been taken to hospital - condition awaits.

"Two males - no further details - have been arrested in connection with this investigation.

(Image: Google)

"Officers from Hammersmith and Fulham investigate.

"Enquiries continue."

The statement added that his condition doesn't appear to be life-threatening and it is believed to be a "non terror-related" attack.

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said the team sent an ambulance crew, a single responder in a car and an incident response officer to the scene.

The spokesman said: "The first of our medics arrived at the scene in under four minutes.

“We treated a man at the scene and took him to a hospital in west London.”