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Riot at Ikea Store Opening
CHAOS AT NEW IKEA OPENING
Feb 10 2005
By TOM PARRY
Bargain hunters caused chaos last night when they stampeded as Ikea's newest store opened.
Several shoppers were hospitalised after the carnage which came as people fought to bag huge discounts on goods.
Witnesses told how customers were knocked to the floor in the crush when the branch in Edmonton, North London, opened at midnight.
The new store, which is the biggest Ikea in England, had been due to trade for a full 24 hours, but was forced to close within around half an hour after an "unforeseen volume of customers".
An Ikea spokesperson said the company had expected 2,000 customers, but around 6,000 people turned up for the grand opening.
Some abandoned their cars on the nearby A406 north circular, causing traffic chaos.
Nine ambulances were called to to the scene with one person sustaining crush injuries, while four others sustained minor injuries. At least 20 other people were also treated for heat exhaustion. No-one was seriously hurt and no arrests were made by police.
Eyewitness Sol Sheikh had hoped to pick up some bargains for his new Edmonton home, before he became involved in the stampede.
"At the beginning it was nice and calm, lots of staff hovering around," he told GMTV. "Then at around 10pm the staff disappeared and slowly but steadily madness descended on the crowd.
"A lot of people turned up just before midnight. They pushed their way into the crowd and started queuing at different parts. The staff just could not handle it."
Apologising to customers who had been involved in the stampede, Ikea UK deputy country manager John Olie explained the trouble flared after people began to queue jump just before the store opened its doors.
"There was a queue that came in but other people started coming in from other areas," he said.
"They just came in and pushed and there was a crush.
"Those that got in were fine, it was the big pressure outside that was the problem."
He added: "We didn't predict this at all. We've opened 12 stores in the UK and we've had opening offers before.
"We purposefully stretched this over 24 hours so we didn't have too much pressure and we took advice from the emergency services."
A spokesperson said the store would remain closed until further notice and that all advertised opening offers had been withdrawn.
Police said the stabbing of a man in his 20s in a nearby car park at about 1.30am was unrelated.
The man, who is recovering in a nearby hospital, is said to be in a stable condition.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnew...-name_page.html
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Craic
Irish word for fun/enjoyment that has been brought into the English language, usually when mixed with alcohol and/or music. General banter, good times had by all. Also, a person who is good fun/great company.
Note: Very tricky to get away with saying this in the US without getting strange looks from police officers.
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...Ikea is crazy...
so I doubt I'd be up for this kinda brutal punishment.
