It started with a flyer sent around on Snapchat. Teenagers were invited to gather at a south London basketball court to celebrate the start of the Easter holidays.
They were told to bring their own weed and laughing gas because it was going to be a late one. What followed in the hours after was chaos.
Hundreds of young people came to the “link-up” last Saturday, and then gathered on Clapham High Street. Shops in the area were overwhelmed, including a Marks & Spencer where videos appear to show teenagers fighting in the aisles.
Some shopkeepers reportedly locked their doors, and fireworks were let off on Clapham Common. Another link-up happened days later.
The Metropolitan police put a 48-hour dispersal order in place and so far six teenage girls have been arrested. Outrage over the scenes bubbled up in the days after.