A 39-year-old man remains in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of possessing a bladed article following reports of threats near the Rotunda Museum in Scarborough.
Shoppers and pedestrians in Scarborough town centre faced a swift police response on Monday afternoon following reports of a man making threats with a knife.
A 39-year-old man was arrested outside the Iceland store on Vernon Road at 4.20pm on Monday, 12 October 2026.
Officers detained the suspect on suspicion of possessing a bladed article in a public place, just ten minutes after the initial emergency calls were made.
The incident began near the historic Rotunda Museum, where alleged threats were first reported to the authorities at 4.10pm.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police confirmed the details of the arrest.
The police spokesperson said:
"The suspect was quickly arrested and the knife recovered. He remains in custody for questioning. No-one was harmed."
During the arrest, the suspect was accompanied by an Alsatian-type dog. Police have confirmed that the animal is now being safely cared for by a relative of the man.
Detectives are investigating the full circumstances surrounding the afternoon disturbance and are turning to the public for assistance.
Officers are particularly keen to trace two specific individuals who may hold vital information about how the event unfolded.
The North Yorkshire Police spokesperson added:
"In particular, we are appealing for two potential key witnesses - believed to be men - to come forward who were walking underneath Spa Bridge at the time of the initial incident."
Anyone who witnessed the events near the Rotunda Museum or the subsequent arrest on Vernon Road is being urged to contact the authorities to support the ongoing investigation.
Investigators are also asking for anyone who might have captured relevant CCTV, dashcam, or smartphone video footage of the incident to get in touch.
Information can be passed directly to North Yorkshire Police by calling 101.
Those who would prefer to remain completely anonymous can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or by making a report through their website.
Callers are asked to quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12260200874 when providing any details related to the case.
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