Two children are arrested after youths - including one as young as SEVEN - 'threatened motorists with FAKE GUN' outside shopping centre
- Police caught four boys, including a seven-year-old, allegedly wielding a toy gun
- Incident occurred yesterday at Reedswood Retail Park in Walsall, West Midlands
- 'Terrified' drivers say they were threatened and vehicles were pelted with stones
- Two boys aged 11 and 12 later arrested for possessing an imitation gun and knife
Armed officers scrambled to a retail park and detained a group of four young boys, including one aged just seven, after motorists were allegedly threatened with an imitation gun.
Drivers had contacted police after youngsters reportedly stopped traffic at gunpoint while shouting: 'Stop, give me your van!'
Other motorists also reported having their vehicles pelted with stones.
Two boys aged 11 and 12 were later arrested, one for possession of an imitation gun and another for possessing a knife.
A 12-year-old and another boy aged seven were escorted home by officers who informed their parents.
Armed police had raced to Reedswood Retail Park in Walsall, West Midlands, shortly after 10am on Saturday after receiving reports from concerned members of the public.
Drivers were said to be terrified after four boys, including one aged just seven, allegedly wielded a toy gun and made threats at Reedswood Retail Park in Walsall, West Midlands
Staff in the retail park also allegedly claimed to have been threatened.
Police recovered a toy gun that had been painted black while a kitchen knife was found in a rucksack.
Sergeant Ben Dolan, of West Midlands Police, said: 'This is really concerning given the ages of the children involved.
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'The imitation firearm seized has been painted black to give it a more authentic appearance; several drivers believed it was a real threat and that's why we sent armed police to the scene.
'These children may have thought it was some kind of game or fun to be pointing a fake gun at people but this caused great concern.
'And it's ended with four boys being stopped by armed police which must have been pretty scary for them.
'It's really important parents speak to their children about the dangers of carrying imitation guns and knives.
'They can get themselves in very serious trouble.'
