Across America violence broke out at malls the day after Christmas, leaving shoppers desperate for an exit and authorities struggling to deal with unruly crowds.
The series of apparently unconnected fights and disturbances included arrests and injuries — including an assault on an officer — and authorities and witnesses described panic-stricken scenes from Colorado to New York.
Police spoke of multiple fights breaking out simultaneously and masses of people throwing wild punches along with large crowds gathering with the police struggling to keep control.