A NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD has been charged with possession of a bladed article in a public place among other offences after an incident in Oxford city centre which caused a huge crowd to gather around police and film then on their phones.

The man and another male, also 19, were arrested in St Aldate’s at around 5.45pm on Friday following an incident at the Westgate.

A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said on Saturday: “We received a report of a public order incident at Westgate Shopping Centre at around 5.30pm on Friday.

“Officers attended and two 19-year-old men from Reading were arrested on suspicion of possession of a bladed article in a public place, racially aggravated public order and possession of cannabis.

“Tafari Durrant, aged 19, of Greenham Avenue, Reading, was charged with using threatening/abusive/insulting words/behaviour with intent to cause fear of/provoke unlawful violence, on Saturday. 

“He has been released on conditional police bail to appear at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on 30 September.

“The other man remains in police custody.”

READ MORE: Oxford men arrested after Cowley Road assault

At the time of the incident, a Thames Valley Police spokesperson said: “We are aware of a large public interest in these arrests due to the location and time they took place and would ask that anyone with information contact us via our website quoting 43220395309.”

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This story was written by Sophie Perry. She joined the team in 2021 as a digital reporter.

You can get in touch with her by emailing: sophie.perry@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @itssophieperry

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