Clapham Flash Mobs: Police Vow Crackdown

0:00On April 2nd, teen flash mobs hit Clapham hard this Easter break, with hundreds of use tearing through the streets, starting fires on Clapham. Common, looting shops, and clashing with police. It kicked off last Saturday and ramped up Tuesday afternoon, when over 300 teens swarmed from basketball courts to the high street. Organized through snapchat flyers and secret groupchats, these linkups drew kids hyped for chaos, some even packing balloons for laughing gas, and weed. Police issued dispersal orders, but the crowds ignored them, leading to assaults on four officers and one bystander. Shop owners on the high street locked up early, describing routines flooding food spots like chicken shops and McDonald's, scaring off peak hour. Customers and hurting business. One worker saw what looked like a thousand kids running wild, unsure of what weapons they might carry. Hooked chats show plans for more meetups in big parks like Crystal Palace or Burgess, where crowds think they can dodge cops.

1:01Six girls got arrested for assaults and thefts, and police are combing CCTV for more, warning parents to track their kids and promising a strong presence. With holidays dragging on, met officers bow to hit back hard against these viral trends, aiming to shut down the next way before it escalates.