Five police were injured in violent outbursts after a mass-meeting organised through social media in Lisbon descended into chaos at the Vasco da Gama shopping centre on Wednesday afternoon.
Shops rapidly closed as the “wave” of youngsters answering the “Meet no Vasco” call promoted through Facebook arrived in the early afternoon.
As many as 800 are thought to have turned up – and though the idea was simply to enjoy a form of “mass dating” things rapidly spiralled out of control.
At least one youth was stabbed and is now recovering in Santa Maria hospital, while other scuffles broke out in which youngsters began stoning police agents.
Shoppers left the mall in panic as authorities began a controlled exit, forcing the youngsters out through the Gare do Oriente where at least four arrests were made.
Tensions were still running high well into the early evening.
As one youth told SIC TV: “No coloured person was allowed into the shopping centre” once police arrived.
This was a disturbing comment, particularly as in America tensions between police and black communities are currently running at flashpoint following the fatal shooting of a black youth by police in Ferguson, Missouri, a week ago.
