There were scenes of chaos outside the Arndale on Sunday afternoon (November 27) after a large group of 'travellers' and young people reportedly 'set off alarms', 'fireworks' and ran 'up and down the tram tracks'.
Witnesses reported hearing alarms sounding in the Arndale shopping centre, with 'hundreds' of teenagers gathering outside and blocking tram lines.
According to councillor Pat Karney, spokesperson for the city centre, there were huge groups of teenagers and children who were causing 'havoc', with some reportedly thrown out of the busy shopping centre by security after alarms and fireworks were set off.
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A video taken outside in Exchange Square on Sunday evening showed the huge crowds forming beside the doorway and along the tram line, with security staff in high-vis jackets also present. Police were reportedly also in attendance.
Coun Karney shared the clip on Twitter, writing: "Down at Exchange Sq. We are monitoring very large numbers of young people. Causing delay on the trams and lots of them asked to leave the Arndale."
He told the Manchester Evening News: "It's surprising just how young some of the travellers are that are coming down to the Arndale, I would say as young as nine, up to about 16-years-old.
"The majority have just been parading up and down Cross Street and Market Street, the problems mainly lie with the minority who have been setting off alarms in the Arndale and throwing fireworks around. Others have been standing on the tram tracks in Exchange Square and staff have had to pilot trams in and out.
"It is a Christmas headache that we don't need. There must have been around 700 of them. Some were causing havoc and nuisance inside the Arndale so the police had to come down and help disperse the crowds and security staff at the Arndale threw a lot of them out too.
"It can be quite intimidating for people who just want to come down to the Christmas markets and enjoy shopping. We will be meeting with the local police to discuss this."
Another witness, who asked to remain anonymous, told the M.E.N : "There were just lots and lots of them blocking the tram lines and stood out the front. Lots of the kids with them were running into the shops so I think that’s mostly why police were staying around the area.
"They were all gathered outside, but most of the trouble was going on inside in the shops. There was just a very huge gathering of hundreds outside. They were sat on the tram lines and platforms too and there were lots of Metrolink staff trying to assist the police."
However, Transport for Greater Manchester said that the large crowds did not actually cause any 'operational issues' but that the trams were having to pass through Exchange Square 'slowly', with people moving off the tracks as trams approached them.
Greater Manchester Police and Manchester Arndale have been contacted for further information.
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