A mob of teenagers tore through a Brooklyn mall Thursday, terrifying customers and forcing stores to lock their doors.
Police estimate more than 300 teens descended on the Kings Plaza shopping center at around 5 p.m. Thursday. The flash mob was spurred on by social media posts urging people to put the mall "on tilt." (Via Facebook / Lulu Theodore)
"There was just a crowd of kids screaming and running around everywhere. We were just trying to get out of there. ... A woman from one of the stores pulled us in and she closed the gate. And we were in the store for like 15 minutes, just standing there locked in." (Via WNYW)
The mob harassed shoppers and caused some minor property damage before police arrived. Although some minor scuffles broke out and at least one person was taken into custody, authorities say no one was seriously hurt and no arrests were made. (Via New York 1)
Stores were told to close their security gates during the commotion, and mall traffic virtually ground to a halt. Police are still investigating what initially sparked the incident.
The following day, Kings Plaza beefed up its security and briefly established a temporary new rule; any shoppers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. It's a restriction many of the mall's younger customers resented. (Via WABC)
"We came here to shop. It's not like we're going to steal anything. And it's basically, we came here for nothing. Now we have to go back home." (Via WCBS)
The no unattended minors rule was dropped when the mall opened for business Saturday.
