This is the moment a thief takes a toddler hostage in a store and demands nearly GBP 7,000 not to kill him with a pair of scissors.

The incident was filmed at the Galeria Center shopping centre in the neighbourhood of Cidade Nova in the city of Parauapebas in the northern Brazilian state of Para on the morning of 6th December.

According to reports, the man entered the store and announced that he was carrying out a robbery before snatching the mother’s young son, aged around two, and threatened his life with a pair of scissors unless he was paid BRL 50,000 (GBP 6,627).

The police said they were contacted around 11.30am and officers managed to arrest the suspect, named as Joao Cezar Barbosa de Oliveira, at the scene.

In the footage, two onlookers are seen grabbing the suspect as he apparently threatens the boy before a large crowd of people rush outside.

The suspect was taken to the Hospital Municipal de Parauapebas with unspecified injuries to his body.

The police said that the suspect even tried to snatch an officer’s gun at the hospital despite being injured.

The child’s mother, name not reported, said the man came to the store and announced he was carrying out a robbery.

She said he snatched her son from her arms and threatened him with a pair of scissors, demanding money.

After the suspect was treated at hospital, he was taken to the local police station to start criminal procedures against him.

The mother and store manager also left statements with the police as the investigation continues.