Birmingham Star City: Arrests over cinema 'machete' brawl

A fight involving people armed with machetes broke out at a cinema in what one witness described as "one of the scariest moments of her life".

A number of police officers were assaulted as they attempted to clear about 100 people from the Star City complex in Birmingham.

They were responding to reports a group with machetes had arrived at the multiplex.

Several arrests for assaulting officers and failing to disperse were made.

The injured officers sustained only minor injuries, West Midlands Police said.

One witness described it as "one of the scariest moments of [her] life", as she queued to watch the new Frozen film with her daughter.

Choleigh McGuire said: "Armed police come, Tasers come, all of the people that were fighting ran off into the cinema, hiding. I am shaking."

One witness said "a young boy was crying on the floor with his mother" as a number of people started fighting.

"The police told everyone to leave the cinema as they held Taser guns in their hands and started to bring in guard dogs," said Rachael Allison.

Motorists have been advised to avoid the area - near the M6 - due to a build-up of traffic.

A dispersal order has been put in place giving police the power to move on groups of people and arrest those who fail to leave.

Star City is a family leisure and entertainment complex in the Nechells area of Birmingham.