More than 300 young people gathered at the Newport Centre Mall in Jersey City, New Jersey, over the weekend, leading to a large and chaotic brawl that has now been linked to a planned event on TikTok. The incident took place around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, according to city officials and police sources.
Law enforcement was called to the scene after reports of disturbances and fights breaking out inside the mall.
The crowd was mostly made up of teenagers who, according to police, had organized the gathering using TikTok. The viral trend appeared to encourage large groups of youth to meet at the mall and engage in fights.
Videos shared on social media show large groups of teens running, yelling, and fighting, with security and police officers trying to get control of the situation. In several clips, officers are seen escorting individuals out of the mall while others continue to push and shove each other.
City officials confirmed that a total of 11 people were arrested, including several minors. Charges ranged from disorderly conduct to resisting arrest.
Thankfully, no major injuries were reported, though the situation created panic among shoppers and families present at the time.
The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office is now reviewing video footage from inside the mall and from social media to determine whether additional charges or arrests are necessary.
Officials are also examining how the gathering was organized and whether any adults were involved in encouraging the event.
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop expressed concern over the growing trend of social media being used to organize large, disruptive events like this.
“This is not just kids being kids anymore. Using TikTok to plan violence is dangerous and irresponsible,” he said in a statement. “We are working closely with the police to prevent similar events in the future.”
The Newport Centre Mall was temporarily closed for the rest of the day following the incident, but reopened on Sunday with added police presence. Mall management also issued a statement saying they are cooperating with authorities and taking extra steps to ensure safety.
Residents have raised concerns about safety and how quickly the situation escalated. Some shoppers who were present said they felt trapped as the fights began to spread and security tried to control the crowd.
One shopper, who did not want to be named, said, “It was terrifying. I came to shop with my kids, and suddenly, crowds were running and fighting. We didn’t know what was going on.”
Officials said the planning of the event through TikTok is part of a worrying pattern. Similar incidents have been reported in other cities across the U.S., where teenagers use social media to organize meetups that often lead to fights, vandalism, or other forms of chaos.
In response to the incident, Jersey City police have increased surveillance in public areas and plan to monitor social media more closely to detect future threats.
School officials have also been informed, and authorities plan to speak with parents and students to spread awareness about the dangers of participating in such gatherings.
Authorities are urging parents to be more aware of their children’s online activity, especially on platforms like TikTok, where trends can quickly go viral and influence large numbers of teenagers.
While no one was seriously hurt in Saturday’s incident, officials say the potential for harm was very real. The situation could have turned much worse if weapons were involved or if the crowd had moved into the street, putting drivers and pedestrians at risk.
The investigation is still ongoing, and authorities are asking anyone with additional videos or information to come forward.
Police also reminded the public that organizing or participating in such disruptive events can lead to serious consequences, including criminal charges.
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