"Drop the weapon!": Dramatic moment 'knifeman' is arrested in Birmingham city centre in front of horrified shoppers

This is the dramatic moment a 'knifeman' is arrested in Birmingham city centre in front of horrified shoppers.

With tensions across the nation very high after the bomb attacks on a tube train in Parson's Green, London, this video reveals the moment four officers leap onto the man.

The man who is lying face down on the floor appears to be either unconscious or unresponsive as a police officer aiming a Taser demands he drop his weapon.

The officer then bends down over the prone man and pulls what appears to be a white-handled bladed instrument from his grasp.

Once the weapon has been moved aside three colleagues descend on the man to handcuff him and remove him from the scene as a police vehicle screams into the street and pulls up outside HSBC.

It all took place in front of horrified shoppers.

Eyewitness Darryl Godden said: "I was exiting the Apple Store when people started moving away, not panicking as such, but a bit of a jostle

"I heard them shouting "drop the knife" and taser warnings and the crowd moved away hurriedly.

"Once I could get past the people he was on the floor in the position you see in the video."

British Transport Police confirmed the man had been arrested in connection with possession of a knife and taken to hospital.

A force spokeswoman said: "A man has been arrested outside HSBC bank near Birmingham New Street station at 13.15 today.

"Officers were initially responding to a call regarding a concern for welfare outside the station, when a man was seen with a knife, he was subsequently arrested on possession of bladed article and has been taken to hospital.

"The incident is believed to be drug related."