CS gas used to stop disco fight
Police sprayed CS gas to control a group of people brawling outside a junior disco in Greater Manchester. The gas was used when two officers were injured trying to break up the fight that also involved wedding party guests at Altrincham Leisure Centre.
A number of youngsters at the event – a Candy Club social night for under 16s – were also injured in the mayhem on Saturday night, said police.
Six teenagers were arrested on suspicion of public order offences.
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It was total chaos. You don’t expect anything like this to ever happen
Amy Clark, Candy Club organiser |
They included a 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl.
Two men, aged 19 and 21, were given fixed penalty notices.
Three men, two aged 19 and a 21-year-old, were arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage.
The nine people who were arrested, all from Greater Manchester, were released on bail until 23 August pending further inquiries.
In response to the violence organisers of the Candy Club – aimed at teengers, with no alcohol – have decided to stop holding the monthly event.
Minor injuries
It is thought the fighting started shortly before 2300 BST after a clash between teenagers at the disco and wedding guests.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: “At the end of the disco a large group of youths congregated in an area close to the exit.
“A fight then broke out and officers were called. Other children leaving the leisure centre then became caught up in the altercation.
“Two officers suffered minor injuries and CS gas had to be used to bring the crowd under control.”
‘Crying hysterically’
Amy Clark, one of the organisers, said: “Some of the children were injured. They were really, really traumatised by what happened. Some of the girls were crying hysterically.
“It was total chaos. You don’t expect anything like this to ever happen.
“We lay these events on once a month so the kids can enjoy themselves and have a dance. But we are never going to do it again.”
Leisure centre chief executive Bernie Jones said: “In the melee lots of other people who were in the vicinity joined in. Some of them may have just been passing by.”
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/manchester/4718945.stm
Published: 2005/07/26 17:37:43 GMT
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