from The Telegraph: Britain’s biggest Ikea store opened at midnight yesterday – but closed just 40 minutes later as 6,000 frenzied shoppers stampeded for bargains, leaving 20 in need of hospital treatment.
One woman was said to have been threatened by a man with a mallet, and another waiting in the checkout queue was “mugged” for her cut-price sofa. Security guards were reported to have fled the scene.
Police were called and a fleet of nine ambulances ferried people to hospital with heat exhaustion and crush injuries.
A huge crowd had gathered for the opening of the Swedish furniture store in Edmonton, north London, entertained by fire eaters, stilt walkers and music. They stood patiently as Tom Williams, the store manager, chopped a log – the Swedish equivalent of cutting the ribbon.
But as his axe struck its final blow at midnight and the doors swung open, the crowd – three times the size expected – surged forward.
Mr Williams and his 750 “co-workers” could only watch helplessly as thousands of bargain-hunters raced for the soft furnishing department, determined to get their hands on one of 350 sofas, usually on sale for
