The key facts
- About 300 people, mostly teenagers, gathered for the promotion in Dortmund on November 8; stones, chairs, fireworks, and an electric scooter were thrown at the police
- The eatery was banned from continuing operations; the authorities are checking whether the cost of the police operation can be recovered from the owner
- A signal pistol was confiscated from one participant during a search; investigations have been opened under several charges
The promotion and the stampede
In Dortmund, Germany, a promotional campaign by a new eatery — a doner kebab for one euro instead of the usual 7.5 euros — turned into mass riots. The promotion began on November 8; the offer was heavily advertised on social media, so even before opening a queue of about 300 people, mostly teenagers, had gathered at the entrance. This was reported by the city police (according to a Life.ru publication).
Attack on police officers
Visitors began pushing and trying to force their way inside; the private security hired by the owner could not handle the crowd, and the businessman called the police. When law enforcement arrived, the promotion was halted, but the crowd refused to disperse and started throwing improvised objects at the police — stones, chairs, fireworks, and even an electric scooter. One of the stones damaged a patrol car. Additional forces were brought in to restore order, including special police units and a helicopter.
Consequences
One of the participants, who refused to leave the scene, was found during a search to be carrying a signal (flare) pistol, which was confiscated. Law enforcement opened investigations under several charges, including disturbing public order, resisting the police, property damage, and insults. After the riots, the eatery was banned from continuing operations, and the authorities are checking whether the cost of the large-scale police operation can be recovered from the owner. The businessman himself apologized for what happened and said the promotion was ruined by the behavior of some of the visitors.
Context
Life.ru also recalls previously reported mass riots in Frankfurt am Main, where, according to the outlet, more than 100 police officers were injured: rioters threw stones at law enforcement, 17 retail outlets were damaged, and five more were looted. The publications do not claim any connection between these events and the incident in Dortmund — they are separate incidents in Germany.
