Teenage Mob Erupts in Central London During Pop-Up Shop Frenzy
Hundreds of teenagers swarmed central London yesterday, throwing objects at police officers in a chaotic scene sparked by a pop-up shop event. The incident, centered in Soho Square, saw young people—predominantly boys—descend on the area in a bid to secure free clothing from the streetwear brand Zoned.
Violent Clashes and Social Media Fallout
Footage from the event, widely shared on platforms like TikTok and Instagram under the phrase "don't die for garms," captured alarming behavior. Groups of teenagers were seen climbing statues, tussling with each other, and hurling pizza boxes at police officers dispatched to control the crowds. In one video, two boys lay on the ground with Lime Bikes as officers attempted to separate them.
The chaos extended beyond Soho Square, with children sprinting down Oxford Street toward the action. The Metropolitan Police declined to comment on the incident, but the unrest has not subsided. Zoned has announced another pop-up event today in Kentish Town, raising concerns of a repeat scenario. Metro has reached out to the brand for a statement.
Historical Context of Pop-Up Shop Turmoil
This is not the first time a pop-up shop has triggered frenzy in central London. Last February, hundreds of teenagers swarmed police vans on Carnaby Street, with one boy allegedly stealing an officer's jacket. The Metropolitan Police confirmed vehicle damage and theft of contents from inside, leading to the arrest of two boys under 16 on suspicion of theft, criminal damage, and affray.
Eyewitness Account Highlights Dangers
Archie McNicol, a 16-year-old who has attended similar events, described this as "one of the worst" he has witnessed. He recounted crowds growing larger and more raucous, with participants chanting "f*** the feds" in response to police efforts to defuse the situation. "There were thousands of people coming down Carnaby Street and pushing into each other," Archie said. "I was maybe 5 meters away from the van and I was crushed, I couldn't move, people were panicking and lots of people were passed out by the side."
He added, "I even heard fireworks going off, I didn't see anyone setting them off but I heard bangs, there were people throwing their shoes and chucking water bottles. About five minutes in, police got on top of the van and tried to disperse it, but the brand's main image is 'f*** the feds' so when people are trying to get free clothes and the police are trying to stop it, it became complete chaos."
The incident underscores ongoing issues with crowd control and safety at pop-up shop events in London, prompting calls for better management and oversight to prevent future violence.
