Shoppers left horrified as man ‘wields SAMURAI SWORD’ on busy street in Coventry

A MAN wielding a samurai sword was wrestled to the ground by police after reportedly stabbing himself.

Horrified shoppers in Coventry city centre looked on as a man dressed only in a pair of white trousers brandished the weapon before turning it on himself.

Officers rushed to the scene on the busy high street after receiving reports someone had a ‘bladed article’ in town.

Passers-by witnessed ‘pools of blood’ on the pavement after he is said to have injured himself with the sword.

Police managed to restrain and disarm the man, believed to be in his thirties, the after the events unfolded around midday in the main square.

Eyewitness Chris Kelly said: "We were walking through Broadgate and there were about five to six police officers tending to this guy on the ground in front of the Godiva statue.

"We thought he was being restrained at first but then saw pools of blood.

"Apparently he was waving a sword and cutting himself with it, may have even stabbed himself, sort of Harikari (ritual suicide with a sword).

"Police tackled him and disarmed him then gave him first aid.

Photos from the scene show a large crowd gathered around a man who is in handcuffs, surrounded by uniformed police.

His white clothing is visibly reddened by what is thought to be blood.

A spokesman for the West Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed they were called to the scene just after midday.

They treated one man before rushing him to hospital.

A spokesman for the local police force added he had been detained under the mental health act and is currently receiving support from multiple agencies.