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A policeman was attacked when a man went on the rampage outside M&S in Birmingham City Centre, with eyewitnesses saying people were being punched at random.

The incident happened at 4.30pm on Tuesday July 9 when the busy shopping area was packed with families and commuters.

An eye witness said a young man started shouting and swearing before lashing out and trying to hit people.

Fortunately, police swooped in quickly and pinned the man to the floor.

But, in the process, he punched a police officer and cut his lip.

Mohammed Idris was on his way back from work at Edgbaston Priory Hospital and witnessed the scene.

He said: "All of a sudden, a young lad started going really hyper.

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"He was shouting and swearing at passers-by, waving his arms and acting like he was drunk or on drugs.

"He was like a boxer getting ready to fight, swing his arms and going up to people saying 'come on, give it to me.'

"A young girl walked past him and he just missed her, she screamed and ran away. He was really animated."

The man then lashed out at an elderly man in the street.

Mohammed added: "People started to gather and shout at him.

"Then an elderly man went to walk by and he punched him in the face.

"The police swooped on him (the young lad) in a matter of minutes and tried to get him on the floor.

"But he punched an officer and cut his lip. He had blood all down his shirt."

He said: "They used pepper spray as it took three to four officers to get him on the ground.

"A police van came with sirens blaring and took him away.

"It all happened at once."

He describes the man as being aged around 19 to 20, and tall.

"It was very frightening," added Mohammed, who was trying to catch a connecting bus to go home after work.

"Fortunately the elderly man was alright. He nearly fell over but people ran to help him. He was clutching his left eye where he'd been punched."

(Image: Birmingham Live)

He added: "It was a good job the police swooped in so quickly otherwise I don't know what would have happened.

"It was a busy time of the day with lots of shoppers around and lots of schoolchildren too."

He said: "It happened just a stone's throw from Dale End where there's been all that trouble. It was very scary."

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "An officer was assaulted in Birmingham City Centre.

"He suffered cuts to the chin. A man has been arrested and taken into custody."