A crowd of more than 1,000 people gathered outside a new kebab shop in Dortmund on a Sunday afternoon to celebrate its opening. The owners had advertised the event on social media, offering kebabs for one euro and announcing prize draws. The promotion, posted on the Instagram account “foodloveressen,” attracted a large turnout that included minors. Security staff were unable to control the crowd, and the shop’s owner called the police. When officers arrived, they were attacked with bottles, stones, fireworks, an electric scooter and a chair. A police car was damaged by thrown stones. The police called for reinforcements, including an intervention unit, and a helicopter monitored the scene from the air. Tram traffic on the main street in front of the shop was temporarily suspended. During the incident, police seized a pistol from a man who refused to leave the area. Several criminal proceedings were opened, including charges for disturbing public order, property damage and insult. One person was temporarily detained. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage to identify the perpetrators. Police are also examining whether the shop’s owners will be required to cover the costs of the police response. A police spokesperson explained that intense online promotion, especially with prize draws, can attract large crowds and that the security service was overwhelmed. The owners later posted on Instagram that “Unfortunately, some of them did not behave properly, and we do not approve of that.” No injuries were reported.
Article source: Večernji List | Image credit: Večernji List