A man was seen waving a large knife behind a counter at Mammas African Kitchen in Erdington, Birmingham, during the afternoon on Friday. The incident occurred around 4 p.m., when staff had to leave the premises after the man entered the shop. According to witnesses, he was chased into the takeaway by members of the public who were upset because he had been causing disturbances in other nearby shops. While behind the counter, he repeatedly hit the knife against the surface and shouted loudly, creating a tense and alarming situation. Another man, who may have previously interacted with the suspect, approached the takeaway's doorway holding a fire extinguisher. The armed man reacted angrily, even threatening to throw food at him. Other members of the public tried to keep the situation calm, and the man with the fire extinguisher was seen leaving the takeaway shortly after. Witnesses said the man had been causing problems in other shops along the High Street and was not associated with the takeaway. They added that if people hadn’t confronted him, the situation could have escalated further. Staff had to flee the shop, and the man’s erratic behavior was particularly concerning on a busy street in broad daylight. Bystanders reportedly chased the man into the takeaway after he caused disturbances at nearby shops. West Midlands Police arrived at the scene shortly after the incident and arrested a man in his 40s on suspicion of criminal damage and assault. A police spokesperson said one person suffered a minor hand injury during the incident, which was treated by paramedics on-site and did not require hospitalization. The suspect remained in custody as of the latest update, and police are continuing their investigation. They urged anyone with information to contact them via 101 or Live Chat, quoting crime reference 20/404325/26. The incident highlights the importance of community vigilance and police response in addressing public disturbances. While no serious injuries were reported, the situation was alarming given its occurrence in a public space during daylight hours. Authorities are working to determine the full context of the man’s actions and whether there are any links to previous incidents. As the investigation continues, local residents are being encouraged to share any relevant information to help bring the case to a conclusion.