- Greater Manchester Police chief said mayhem was ‘totally predictable’ but that stores did not have enough staff
- Manchester police made three arrests after being called to 7 Tesco stores – one had to be closed after 36 minutes
- One man arrested on suspicion of assault allegedly told staff member in Salford he would ‘smash their face in’
- A woman was injured by a falling TV at Tesco store in Stretford, while a female worker left work with a black eye
- Desperate customers were seen brawling over a Blaupunkt HD TV in Tesco which had been slashed by just £60
- Scotland Yard confirmed officers were called to three Tesco stores in Willesden, Surrey Quays and EdmontonByEmma Glanfieldand Steph Cockroftand Jennifer Smith for MailOnline
Scenes of violence and chaos broke out across the UK today as millions of customers behaving ‘like animals’ flooded shops and supermarkets to try and get their hands on cut-price goods during the Black Friday sales.
Police were called to dozens of supermarkets as the midnight sales descended into chaos, with shoppers resorting to wrestling one another on the shop floor as they competed for TVs discounted by as little as £60.
One Tesco store in Manchester had to be closed just 36 minutes after opening due to fighting, while another customer was arrested on suspicion of assault in the Salford branch after allegedly telling a staff member that he would ‘smash their face in’.
Two other customers were arrested for public order offences by officers in Manchester, who dealt with some of the worst scenes of violence on the biggest day of discount shopping in the year.
As the discounting frenzy reached fever pitch, there were also reports of staff being left in tears in Cardiff, while another female staff member was apparently given a black eye following a melée in Stretford.
The four determined shoppers were involved in a tug of war-style tussle as they all tried to claim one of the 50inch Blaupunkt TVs
The disagreement was just one of many which unfolded in Tesco stores across the country as shoppers desperately tried to get their hands on some of the Black Friday bargains
The row broke out as customers pounced on a fresh delivery of discount TVs, which arrived at the Bristol store just after midnight
The shoppers were seen pushing and fighting one another on the shop floor as they tried to get their hands on the reduced item
