Security guards and bystanders have “potentially prevented a tragic outcome” after they managed to subdue a knife-wielding man accused of assaulting a driver and firing off flares at a busy shopping centre, police say.

Bright orange clouds of smoke took over parts of Lakeside Joondalup in Perth’s northern suburbs just after 3.30pm on Thursday, triggering calls to Triple-0.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Man allegedly armed with knife accused of setting off flare at Lakeside Joondalup.

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A man first tried to steal a ride-share car parked outside the centre on Joondalup Dr before setting off a flare, Assistant Commissioner Martin Haime said.

The vehicle was damaged and the driver suffered facial injuries when he was allegedly assaulted.

The man then headed into the centre where he is accused of firing off another pyrotechnic.

Throughout the alleged rampage, police claim he was in possession of a 20cm-long knife.

Shopping centre security, with the help of shoppers, were able to detain him until officers arrived.

The man allegedly held the blade “in a threatening manner”, but Haime said there was “certainly no indication that he made any contact with the security guards and didn’t attempt to actually carry out any assault on anyone (with it)”.

“One security guard sustained minor injuries to his knee in the course of apprehending the man,” Haime said, adding he had been taken to Joondalup Health Campus.

“The man in possession of the knife received a laceration to his hand and was conveyed to hospital by St John Ambulance.”

Several blade-related attacks have been reported across Australia recently, and authorities said this “unsettling” incident had drawn thoughts back to “previous events in other jurisdictions”.

Haime said the actions of shoppers and security at the centre “potentially prevented a tragic outcome”.

“Police would like to thank security guards who acted quickly to resolve the incident and keep the community safe,” he said.

“We would also like to thank the members of the public who stepped in to assist security guards to detain the man.

“The actions of all involved ensured no one was seriously injured and potentially prevented a tragic outcome.”

Haime said WA Police are working closely with the retail sector and operators to enhance safety, including improving response times to critical incidents and through the use of real time CCTV and automatic number plate recognition.

Police believe the incident is related to mental health.

They have charged a 29-year-old Banksia Grove man with attempted aggravated robbery, criminal damage, behaving disorderly in public, endangering life, and carrying an edged weapon.

He will appear before the Joondalup Magistrates Court on Friday.

The investigation is ongoing and police have appealed for people who filmed the incident to contact police.