A 17-year-old boy has been arrested
19:57, 25 Jul 2025Updated 19:59, 25 Jul 2025
Primark on Church Street(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Shoppers watched on in horror after a security guard was “punched right in the face” in Primark. Merseyside Police were called to the clothing store on Church Street in Liverpool city centre at around 2.45pm on Thursday, July 24, following reports two staff members had been assaulted by three males.
The males then reportedly left without paying for various items. Cathy Cummins, from Aigburth, was at the store at the time of the incident. The 79-year-old told the ECHO: “There must have been about five security guards. [The boy] punched one of them right in the face and said, ‘I’ll be back for you.’
“There was hundreds of people in there today. Everyone was screaming. The guards were just standing around keeping people back. Loads of kids were there with their mums and there was elderly people as well.
“I banged all my hands on the wall trying to get through the crowd. It was horrible; everyone was terrified.”
Cathy, who struggles with a heart condition, said she “could have had a heart attack” following the incident. She added: “I don’t go into town a lot because of my health.
“I only went into town to exchange something in another shop and then fancied a look in Primark. I think a lot of people would have gone home shaken up after what happened.”
A 17-year-old boy from Liverpool was arrested on suspicion of robbery shortly afterwards. He has been conditionally bailed pending further enquiries, police said.
A spokesperson for Primark said: “The safety of our colleagues and customers is our number one priority at all times, and we are focused on supporting our security team and colleagues who were in the store at the time of the incident.
“This type of behaviour is unacceptable and has no place in our stores and on our high streets. We are assisting the police with their investigation and are unable to comment further.”
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: “We can confirm that a 17-year-old boy has been arrested following a reported robbery in Liverpool city centre yesterday, Thursday 24 July.
“At around 2.45pm, it was reported that two staff members at a shop on Church Street had been assaulted by three males who left without paying for various items.
“A 17-year-old boy from Liverpool was arrested shortly afterwards on suspicion of robbery. He has been conditionally bailed pending further enquiries.”
If you have any information about this incident, you can call 101 or DM @MerPolCC on social media, quoting reference number 25000610169.
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