Teenagers egg police, stop trams and force shopkeepers to barricade their shops as end-of-school celebrations turn into mini-riots
Dispersal orders were given in Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens just after 5pm
Police officers were pelted with eggs and milkshakes by rioting teenagers in Manchester city centre.
Hundreds of children in uniform were seen rioting around Piccadilly Gardens yesterday, after school finished for the summer.
Shops were forced to lock their doors and tram services were brought to a crawl as youths ran around.
A witness said the group then headed towards Market Street, where they were joined by teenagers from other schools.
It follows a similar scenario in January last year when around 100 students attacked police officers.
Police officers were pelted with eggs and milkshakes by rioting teenagers in Manchester city centre.
A dispersal order was issued in Piccadilly Gardens just after 5pm yesterday
A tactical support unit was formed to help control the mayhem, which began at around 2.30pm after a group of teenagers were asked to leave the food court at the Arndale shopping centre.
Shortly after 5pm, a dispersal order was issued and one man was reportedly arrested after a chase into Piccadilly Gardens by officers.
Despite police warnings to disperse, the crowd spent the best part of two hours shouting and screaming, witnesses said.
Officers warned those gathered that they could be arrested if they refused to move when asked.
Video footage shows the group of youths walking past Primark towards Piccadilly Gardens.
School kids finishing up for the summer threw eggs and milkshakes at police officers
Video footage shows youths rioting around Manchester city centre
Police officers in Manchester city center warned those gathered that they could be arrested if they refused to move when asked.
A dispersal order was given in Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens just after 5pm yesterday
A tactical support unit was formed to help control the mayhem, which reportedly saw a group of teenagers asked to leave the food court at the Arndale shopping centre.
Despite police warnings to disperse, the crowd spent the better part of two hours yelling and screaming, witnesses said.
Manchester councilor Pat Carney condemned the ‘disgraceful behaviour’ of those involved and warned that action would be taken.
‘It’s just insulting,’ he said. ‘Hundreds of young people – we know it’s the last day of school, and we’ve all been there and loved it – but you don’t come down to the center of Manchester to stop trams, throw eggs at the police and riot in the area and think it’s funny.
‘We will have pictures of these children – we have lots of cameras in Piccadilly and tram stops – and we will contact the schools they come from. It will not be allowed in the city center. We are not putting up with this nonsense.’
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