Rampaging shoppers jump on police car after London trainers launch goes wrong

Huge crowds of people had gathered with some climbing road signs and jumping on police cars (Picture: TikTok/@9984038 and @ukundergroundavg)

A busy shopping street in London has descended into chaos after a launch of new trainers went wrong.

Huge crowds gathered on Carnaby Street following an apparent marketing stunt offering free trainers from midday on Saturday.

The launch, a collaboration between brands Up In Flames and Poser, only revealed its exact location on Saturday morning and saw hundreds of people descend upon central London.

But the pop-up has been branded ‘the worst pop-up of all time’, with huge crowds chanting ‘f*** the feds’ after police arrived at the scene.

TikTok clips from user @fitswitharchie show groups of teenagers running after a van apparently containing the clothing, some even clinging on to the back of the van so they didn’t have to run.

The drivers, two men wearing scarves over their faces, stopped the van and started throwing free items out to the huge crowds.

It’s claimed people were ‘punching each other in the face’ in order to get hold of free t-shirts and other items.

Some people apparently passed out in the crowd while others stole clothes from those who managed to get hold of the free items, and despite police quickly arriving on bikes, they were unable to calm the situation.

One teenager was even seen jumping on the bonnet of a police car after a number of rapid response vehicles arrived at the scene, while another stood on the roof of a police vehicle wearing a Metropolitan Police reflective jacket.

Eventually, more police officers were sent to the scene and managed to disperse the crowds.

A boy under the age of 16 was arrested on suspicion of theft from a motor vehicle, criminal damage of a motor vehicle and affray, the Metropolitan Police told MailOnline.

A Section 35 Dispersal Order, which expired at midnight, was put in place across the borough of Westminster. 

The full police statement said: ‘Police were called at 12.09pm on Saturday,  February, 22 following reports of a large crowd gathering in Soho in relation to an apparent marketing stunt that had been advertised online.

‘Officers attended the location and a Section 35 Dispersal Order for the borough of Westminster was put in place until 23:59hrs tonight.

‘During the incident some of the crowd caused damage to an unattended police vehicle and a boy under the age of 16 was arrested for theft from a motor vehicle, criminal damage of a motor vehicle and affray. The investigation into this is ongoing.

‘The area has now cleared and officers remain on high visibility patrols to offer reassurance to the public.’ 

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