Gardaí in Waterford were called to an attempted armed robbery at the City Square Shopping Centre at 5pm this evening. 

It is understood a man holding a large knife entered a shop and tried to rob it; no injuries were reported and the situation has been de-escalated.

As word of the attempted robbery spread, people ran out of the shopping centre in panic.

Large numbers of Gardaí arrived at the shopping centre but they have not yet confirmed whether any arrests were made.

Main image: The Garda logo outside a barracks. Image: Phil Crean A / Alamy