A mass brawl broke out between teenagers during a screening of a gang movie Blue Story at a theater also showing Disney's new movie, Frozen 2. The fight saw up to 100 teenagers wielding weapons, including machetes, as parents lined up with their children to watch the movie at Star City in Birmingham, England.
"Dozens of officers were sent to the complex after a 999 call just after 5.30pm reporting a group of youths with machetes," a spokesperson for West Midlands Police told The Independent. "Two machetes were seized during the trouble, which saw pockets of fighting and seven police officers left with minor injuries as they dealt with the crowds in and around the cinema."
Armed police officers were sent to the scene, utilizing tasers in their efforts to reclaim order in the face of a "very hostile response" against them. Officers were reportedly left with facial injuries, with a knife being recovered from a nearby roundabout.
A witness explained how "a young boy was crying on the floor with his mother" as the violence erupted. Rachel Allison told the Press Association, "The police told everyone to leave the cinema as they held Taser guns in their hands and started to bring in guard dogs. I spoke to a policeman who told me it is unclear whether the kids had weapons and also stated when kids fight they bring their group of friends. "
Another eyewitness shared how the brawl broke out as she waited with her daughter for their screening of Frozen 2, writing on Twitter: "There was a fight in the cinema ... group of girls on one girl and it all escalated. The group ran into the cinema rooms to hide and a lot of police turned up. Has to be one of the scariest experiences of my life, so sad all the little children were there."
Five teenagers have since been arrested in connection to the fight. A 13-year-old girl, a boy and girl both aged 14 and a 19-year-old male were held on suspicion of assaulting police officers. Following the incident, the cinema's management team decided to close for the rest of the evening.
Superintendent Ian Green of Birmingham police noted, "This was a major outbreak of trouble which left families who were just trying to enjoy a night out at the cinema understandably frightened. We worked quickly to move the crowds on, but were met with a very hostile response and officers had to draw Tasers to restore order. Thankfully, the injuries to our officers were very minor. We've also recovered two machetes and a knife, and it's clear that some of those who went to Star City last night were intent on causing trouble."
In theaters now, Disney's Frozen 2 reunites directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck and producer Del Vecho with voice actors Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad. Returning musical talents include Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.