Video: Hourlong melee at Mall of America

A fight at the food court led to ''other altercations'' involving 50 juveniles, police said

UPI

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — A fight at the food court led to "other altercations" that lasted more than an hour throughout Minnesota''s Mall of America, officials said.

Mall spokesman Dan Jasper said in a news release the incident began at about 4:20 p.m. when "50 juveniles caused a large disturbance in the north food court."

"Mall of America security and Bloomington (Minn.) police responded to the call," the release said. "Following that call, a few other altercations occurred throughout the mall. Mall of America security and Bloomington police have called in extra officers to ensure guest safety."

The melee prompted some shoppers to duck into stores for safety, but some shops closed their inside doors during the disturbance the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune reported, citing police and witnesses.

There had been reports the mall was locked down and that the fight involved weapons, but mall officials said those reports were not accurate, the newspaper said. There were no reports of injuries or arrests.

Witnesses said after the fight at the food court, large numbers of young people coursed through the mall — some snatching property from shoppers and merchants.

Hannah Betz, 16, of Maple Plain, Minn., told the newspaper the larger group broke up into small groups and scattered when police arrived.

Copyright 2011 U.P.I.

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