This is the moment a boy was attacked by a teenager with a machete as a mob of feral youths ran riot outside a John Lewis store in a Liverpool shopping centre. 

The 17-year-old was ambushed by the gang on a set of steps near a branch of the department store in the Liverpool ONE mall at around 7.15pm on Monday. 

Shocking footage shows the group of hooded teens viciously kicking and punching the victim in what is believed to have been 'a targeted attack'. 

One of the yobs then pulls out a machete and swings it down towards the boy's arm, before screaming bystanders scatter in fear. 

Shouts of 'oh my God' and 'what the f*** lad' can be heard as the mob quickly flees the scene of the broad daylight assault. 

The victim, who was left 'very distressed', was rushed to hospital with swelling to his head and a minor slash wound on his arm. He has since been discharged. 

A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of affray on Tuesday. 

He has since been released on bail with instructions not to enter the city centre and surrounding areas as investigations continue. 

It comes after a series of violent so-called 'linkups' by teens across the UK, affecting city centres across the country, from London to Birmingham. 

Mass looting, rioting and fighting has seen high streets nationwide forced to shut, with shoppers barricaded in stores as police attempt to handle the chaos. 

The attack in Liverpool city centre on Monday was followed by another incident of knife crime nearby the next night, as reported by the Liverpool Echo. 

A 15-year-old boy was stabbed in the arm at the Royal Albert Dock at around 7.55pm, which saw police cordon off the area near the Tate Liverpool museum.

He was rushed to hospital for treatment for his injuries, which are not believed to be life-threatening.  

A witness said they saw the victim 'covered in blood' in the wake of the assault.  

The terrifying developments have seen officers at Merseyside Police temporarily granted additional powers when patrolling the area. 

The force introduced a Section 60 order on Thursday, which gives cops enhanced abilities to stop and search until 1pm on Friday. 

This order will apply to men and women of any ethnicity between the ages of 13 and 35 and will also see constables permitted to remove and seize face coverings.  

Extra officers have also been deployed in the city centre to provide a visible presence for deterring crime and serious violence. 

Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Ball said of Monday's assault: 'This is believed to be a targeted attack and the victim was left very distressed from the attack. 

'He was treated in hospital and has since been discharged.

'The incident would also have been upsetting and alarming for people who saw it. 

'We are aware of a video circulating on social media, and we ask people not to share the video while the investigation is ongoing.'

The officer, who is leading the investigation, continued: 'Although an arrest has been made, our enquiries continue into this incident. 

'We urge anyone who witnessed the incident or captured the incident on their mobile phone to please get in touch.' 

Inspector David Grant said, of the Section 60 order: 'This order is not intended to disrupt anyone going about their lawful business but is intended to deter crime or serious violence. 

'The aim, as ever, is to keep the public safe. 

'I hope that the presence of our officers in the city centre is reassuring, and I would ask anyone with concerns to speak to those officers.' 

Of the second knife attack, on Tuesday, a Merseyside Police spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'We can confirm officers are this evening, Tuesday April 7, at the Albert Dock following reports a teenager had been assaulted.

'We were contacted at 7.55pm following reports a 15-year-old boy had been assaulted close to the currently closed Tate suffering a stab injury to the arm.

'The boy has been taken to hospital for treatment for his injury which is not believed to be life threatening.

'An investigation is underway, and witness and CCTV enquiries are being carried out in the local area.'

Chief Inspector Chris Bland said: 'Enquiries are in the early stages as we seek to establish what has taken place.

'We would ask anyone who was at the Albert Dock this evening who heard or saw anything or has any information to contact us.'

Liverpool is currently experiencing one of its busiest periods of the year.

Tens of thousands of visitors have flocked to stay in the city while attending the annual Grand National horse race at nearby Aintree. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police via X or on Facebook @MerPolCC, with reference 26000271101.

They can also report information on the force's website or by calling 101.

People can alternatively contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website. 

Merseyside Police has been contacted for comment.   

The series of attacks are just the latest examples of youths running riot in city centres up and down the country. 

More than 300 teenagers descended on basketball courts in the Clapham area of south London on Saturday and Tuesday last week. 

The mob then swarmed the high street where they looted shops, attacked police and fought one another. 

Five teenage girls were arrested and police issued dispersal orders across the two days of chaos. 

Chris Philp, Conservative MP for Clapham South, has since called for 'mass arrests', describing the mass rioting and looting as 'totally unacceptable'. 

TikTok videos and comments from people who took part in the violence suggest these 'linkups' are loosely pre-arranged via social media.

'I was gonna go but none of my friends wanted to go,' said one comment on a video about the 'Clapham courts linkup'.

Another video showing two girls smiling and dancing at home seemed to reference the second 'linkup' in Clapham. 

The caption on the post read: 'How we feel knowing it's gonna be live at Clapham Courts on Tuesday.'

The havoc has since spread to other towns and cities across the UK, with a similar coordinated move taking place in Birmingham last Friday. 

Pupils flocked to the city centre on the last day of term, causing shops to shut as police fought to control the crowd. 

Hooded youths were seen hurtling through the streets, fighting each other and swarming on shops and fast-food restaurants. 

Elsewhere, West Midlands Police were forced to issue a 36-hour dispersal order in Solihull town centre last week due to 'a number of incidents of anti-social behaviour'.