Police have charged 44-year-old Philip Mapp with attempted murder, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of cannabis in relation to an incident in Blackpole.

Mapp, of Windermere Drive, Warndon, Worcester, appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates on 19 May.

The incident took place in the Blackpole area of Worcester on 17 May.

Calls have been made to police at around 3pm.

Specialist police assets responded to the Blackpole Inn in Blackpole Road where a customer had been threatened with a bladed weapon but not injured.

Further calls were received from the nearby Sainsbury’s Garage reporting a security guard had suffered an injury.

Officers responded swiftly and detained a male nearby on suspicion of attempted murder.

The injured man was taken to Worcester Royal Infirmary.

An eyewitness has spoken of the moment he saw armed police holding a sword as he visited a city supermarket.

Eyewitness shocked seeing a katana-style sword

The man, who wished to remain anonymous, drove into Sainsbury’s Blackpole car park and was shocked to see armed officers holding a sword with a katana-style handle.

The eyewitness said: “We took a bit of a detour yesterday as we needed things from a supermarket, so we drove into Sainsbury’s Blackpole car park.

“I saw the armed police and you could actually see the blade.

“A police car turned up with a blade tube to safely put the sword in and the officer who was holding it was wearing gloves.”

The eyewitness said he spoke to other shoppers who said they were shocked about the incident.

They said: “It sounded absolutely horrific.

“Thankfully a quick response ambulance and an air ambulance car turned up.

“Hopefully those affected are okay.”

Security guard recovering

A West Midlands Ambulance spokesperson said: “We were called to Windermere Drive in Worcester just after 4.15pm to reports of an assault.

“An ambulance, paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Car from Strensham were sent to the scene where, on arrival, crews found a man with serious injuries.

“He was treated by ambulance crews at the scene before being taken to hospital for further treatment.”

The injured security guard has since been released from hospital and is recovering at home.

A West Mercia Police spokesperson said: “[The security guard] hasn’t suffered physical life-changing injuries but will clearly suffer from the psychological impact of such an attack.”

Superintendent Rebecca Love said: “Tackling knife crime is a key priority for the force and we take it very seriously.

“We are currently running a dedicated operation; Operation Sceptre, which is focussed on removing weapons from the streets through targeted area searches and the use of knife arches, along with educational activity in schools.”

(Source: West Mercia Police and Worcester News)