The NYPD assigned extra officers to patrol a Brooklyn mall on Friday — a day after it was crashed by a teen stampede.
Cops swarmed the Kings Plaza Shopping Center in Mill Basin to prevent any hint of a repeat of a flash mob of more than 300 kids who started fighting, yelling and running wild.
Mall officials requested that “minor children have an adult escort” at the buyers’ haven.
The pandemonium on Thursday was sparked by a Facebook post in which young people were urged to put Kings Plaza “on tilt,” police sources said.
Video posted online of the madness shows several girls getting into fights before police officers intervene, and other kids dashing throughout the mall.
Abu Taleb watched in horror as the teens poached items from other vendors. He said he couldn’t escape the throngs of pint-sized pickpockets as they raided his jars of sweets — and tried to get their paws on his cash.
“It was scary,” Taleb told the Daily News. “Everybody was scared. There were a lot of people, a lot of kids. It was very loud. Security tried to stop them, but they could not do it.
“Kids tried to get my cash from the register,” he continued. “(One) had scissors and was acting like he (was) going to attack me.”
Despite online evidence of the mall melee, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said no one filed a complaint about being assaulted or robbed.
Deputy Chief Kim Royster said cops were called about 9 p.m. Thursday to disperse the crowd of rascals, who caused more of a ruckus than a crime.
“They weren’t stealing anything,” said the NYPD spokeswoman. “They weren’t assaulting anyone. They were going through the mall, making loud noises. Some were fighting with each other.”
A flash mob of 300 poured into Kings Plaza Mall after a Facebook post urged to put the Brooklyn shopping center 'on tilt.'
Royster said the doors were ordered shut while the troublemakers, their post-Christmas riot winding down, were booted out. About 20 minutes later, the doors were reopened.
Sources said police were also there earlier, at about 6:30 p.m., to break up the first wave of rowdy behavior — including several fights involving about six girls.
One girl was briefly taken into custody, then told to go home.
At least one of the fights started because one girl was wearing a shirt with a picture of another girl with a derogatory comment underneath.
Hashem Muhammad, who works at Air Walkers, a balloon stand on the second floor, described a crazy scene.
“Kids were dancing everywhere,” he said. “The customers and their kids were scared.”
As shoppers gathered Friday to capitalize on post-Christmas sales, extra NYPD vehicles could be seen outside the mall’s entrances.
Inside, a Sears security guard said he was told to keep out kids under 18 unless they were with an adult.
Frequent shopper Angel Craig, 15, said he was stopped Friday when he entered the mall.
“It’s unfair. Not every teenager is reckless,” Angel said. “I wouldn’t come to a mall and wreak havoc.”
You need to be a member of CaribbeanFever / FeverEyes / CaribFever to add comments!
Join CaribbeanFever / FeverEyes / CaribFever