Shoppers flee after counter smashing causes confusion in Westfield
Westfield Stratford City will stage its sixth student discount day. Pic: Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield - Credit: Archant
Mayhem ensured on Boxing Day at Westfield Stratford as two separate incidents led to mass panic and confusion.
A number of arrests were made after a fight in Westfield last year on Boxing Day. Picture: Twitter@nita035 - Credit: Archant
At 4.20pm, officers who were patrolling the shopping centre stopped a man on the ground floor, as he was thought to be carrying a weapon.
When he was searched, officers found a knife and arrested him.
No one was injured and he was taken to a police station in east London for questioning.
Almost immediately after, a countertop in the food court smashed, creating a huge bang and causing crowds of people to rush through the centre.
You may also want to watch:
Witnesses on Twitter reported seeing crowds of people screaming and sprinting for the exits.
Again, no one was hurt and more police came to support Westfield security. No further offences were found.
Most Read
- 1 Jailed man caught with knife in Stratford to be handed court order
- 2 Cause of death remains unknown after body found in disused Forest Gate pub
- 3 Worshippers at mosque in Upton Park aim to raise £35k for Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal 2021
- 4 Body found in derelict pub in Forest Gate
- 5 Hundreds arrested after police crackdown on county lines
- 6 Forest Gate triple shooting: 'Safety is everybody's business,' councillor says
- 7 Man given community order for 26 counts of criminal damage after scratching name into property
- 8 Tom Hiddleston to appear as MCM Comic Con returns to ExCeL London in Royal Docks
- 9 Thames Barrier closing for 200th time amid potential east London flooding
- 10 Newham mathematician to fill in for Countdown presenter and expectant mum Rachel Riley
On Boxing Day last year, eight were arrested in the shopping centre after a fight broke out between a group of people. Knives were seized and two officers were hurt.
