Police were forced to break up a 'huge' crowd of young people who had gathered in chaotic scenes outside the Arndale centre on Sunday night (November 27). A video showed 'hundreds' of people, thought to be mainly children and teenagers, gathering on the steps and blocking tram lines.
Witnesses, including Councillor Pat Karney, told the Manchester Evening News on Sunday that 'alarms and fireworks' had been set off at the centre, with a number of police officers called to the scene to disperse the crowds who were also stood on the tram lines at Exchange Square.
Police have since confirmed that they were made aware of anti-social behaviour at the centre on Sunday afternoon and had to break up the crowds, with enquiries still ongoing. No arrests have been made in relation to the incident.
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A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: "At around 2pm yesterday (Sunday 27 November), police were made aware of issues of anti-social behaviour at the Arndale Centre. The group were dispersed, and enquiries are ongoing and at this time, no arrests have been made."
Coun Pat Karney said: "The majority have just been parading up and down Cross Street and Market Street, the problems mainly lie with the minority who have been setting off alarms in the Arndale and throwing fireworks around. Others have been standing on the tram tracks in Exchange Square and staff have had to pilot trams in and out.
"It is a Christmas headache that we don't need. There must have been around 700 of them. Some were causing havoc and nuisance inside the Arndale so the police had to come down and help disperse the crowds and security staff at the Arndale threw a lot of them out too."
People took to social media to share their experiences of being caught up in the crowds on Sunday. One person tweeted: "Horrendous in town this afternoon- anyone decent who mistakenly thought today was a good day to do the markets- my sympathies! Town just doesn’t feel safe on weekends anymore!" As another wrote: "Was chaos couldn’t wait to leave."
A spokesperson for the Arndale centre said: “As these incidents and the large gathering did not take place inside Manchester Arndale and were dealt with by Greater Manchester Police we will not be commenting any further.”
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