The fireworks exploded from the top floor of the car park in High Street, Worthing, shortly after 12.15pm today (Monday, November 3), causing loud bangs to echo through the streets below.

Chatsworth Road, directly beneath the car park, filled with smoke and people fearing for their safety ran inside the nearby Guildbourne Centre.

Seconds after the explosions, red smoke could be seen billowing from the spot where the fireworks were let off from.

Firefighters and police officers raced to the scene and found a man standing on the seventh floor of the car park, holding what appeared to be a big knife.

The Herald was there to witness the drama, and watched as police officers surrounded the man.

Click on the green play button to see video of the incident.

They did not approach him for several minutes, but watched as he stood there smoking a cigarette.

At one point, the man seemed to be shouting something before taking off his hat and throwing it on the floor.

Near to where he was standing, two large scorch marks could be seen on the ground, indicating the spots where the fireworks were launched from.

There was also a large red bag near to the door to the lifts, which officers on the scene said contained several more fireworks.

A cordon was set up stopping drivers accessing the top two floors of the car park while the incident was unfolding.

A man has been arrested in connection with the incident and has been taken into police custody.

Click here for an alternative way of viewing the video.


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