In a short social media post, Longton Shopping Centre, near where the incident took place, wrote: “We are aware of the serious incident that took place in Longton town centre today and the ongoing police and emergency services presence in the area. Whilst the incident did not occur within Longton Exchange Shopping Centre, we understand that events of this nature can cause concern within our community. The safety and wellbeing of our visitors, tenants and staff remains our highest priority. Our security team remains on site, and we continue to work closely with the relevant authorities while monitoring the situation.
“We would like to thank Staffordshire Police, the ambulance service, air ambulance crews, and all emergency service personnel who responded so quickly today. Their professionalism, dedication and commitment to keeping our community safe is greatly appreciated.
“Our thoughts are with those injured, their families, and everyone affected by today’s events. Incidents such as this can be distressing, not only for those directly involved but also for witnesses, families, local businesses and members of our community. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.”