Hundreds of youths descend on Birmingham as teen mob chaos sweeps UK amid viral 'link-up' trend
Mobs of teens have ran riot in UK cities as a social media trend encouraging youths to 'link-up' en masse continues to gain traction online.
A mob of youths have sparked havoc in Birmingham over the Easter holidays as a wave of teenage disorder going viral on social media continues to sweep across the UK.
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Swathes of teens gathered in the city centre on the last day of term, forcing shops to shut as police battled to control the wild school kids.
Hooded youths were seen storming through the streets, clashing with cops and each other as they descended on shops and fast-food restaurants.
Videos posted online show police arresting people in the streets and mobs running riot in the heart of the city.
It comes as a social media trend encouraging youths to 'linkup' en masse continues to gain traction online.
Last night, “terrified” Clapham residents barricaded themselves into high street shops as mobs of lawless youths ran wild in the south London neighbourhood.
Teenagers, many dressed in black and clad in balaclavas, were seen running on the road in large groups towards the nearby common, where fires had been allegedly started by fireworks.
Witnesses say the unruly scenes left shoppers fearing for their safety, as many hid inside shops which had been forced to close in broad daylight.
Many took refuge from the mobs inside the McDonald’s, Marks & Spencers and a Sainsbury’s on Clapham High Street, before later being escorted out by police.Five teenage girls were arrested for shoplifting and assault while police issued dispersal orders.
Nicola James, a Clapham resident, described the scenes as "total chaos".
She told LBC:"There were about 200-300 people, all teenagers, heaps of them wearing balaclavas... Big groups of them would just start screaming and then running up the high street, but also in the middle of the road."
There were heaps of them outside Holland and Barrett at one point and probably 20 police officers were just keeping them at bay."it just felt like a really intense situation and you weren't quite sure what was going on or what was really going to happen next."
She added: "It's just insane. It's quite frightening to have it happen right outside your front door."It was the second time in days youths terrorised the streets after similar scenes were seen over the weekend.
Responding to the chaos, Clapham South MP Chris Philp called for “mass arrests” as he condemned the disorder.
He said: "Mass rioting and looting by youths in Clapham is totally unacceptable.
“This is straight up criminality and there should be mass arrests. There is no excuse for this appalling behaviour - which intimidates the law-abiding majority and causes huge losses for shops.
“We need urgent surge policing deployed into this area accompanied by widespread stop and search to take drugs and knives off the streets.
“Police should also immediately deploy live facial recognition there to catch wanted criminals who may be circulating in the mob.”
Labour MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill Bell Riberio-Addy has also condemned the chaos.
She wrote on X: 'I’m very concerned by the recent scenes of unrest on Clapham High Street. “This intimidating behaviour causes havoc for local residents and businesses alike. It is inexcusable.
“The police have informed me that we will see increased patrols in the area over the coming days.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: "The appalling scenes in Clapham in recent days are absolutely unacceptable and those responsible will face the full force of the law. Two arrests have been made and the Met is continuing to investigate.
"There will be an increased police presence in the area in the coming days, with officers providing support and reassurance to residents and businesses."