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| Several people suffered minor injuries as many hundreds of impatient BlackBerry fans broke through a barricade to get their hands on the latest smartphone during a discount promotion in a Jakarta mall on Friday. (Antara Photo) |
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Dozens of
people suffered minor injuries as many hundreds of impatient BlackBerry fans
broke through a barricade to get their hands on the latest smartphone during a
discount promotion in a Jakarta mall on Friday.
As the
crowd swelling to well in excess of a thousand people — a number of whom had
been queuing since the previous day — rumors began circulating on Friday
morning that the BlackBerry Bellagio, also known as a BlackBerry Bold 9790, had
sold out during the event at Pacific Place mall in South Jakarta.
This and
impatience and frustration caused the crowd to surge forward through a
protective barrier, with reports saying that as many as 90 people needing
treatment for a range of minor injuries, from losing consciousness to broken
bones.
Ambulances
and paramedics were rushed to the scene, with at least three people taken to
hospital with fractured or broken bones.
Up to 200
police and security guards were also deployed to restore order and prevent
similar scenes from reoccurring.
Sherly, 32,
who had been waiting since 3 a.m., told the Jakarta Globe that she passed out
in the crush.
“The mass
just went crazy and began pushing each other,” she said. “It was really scary,
I was squeezed by the crowd until I lost consciousness.”
Sherly, who
has never owned a BlackBerry but was attracted by the massive discount, was
later observed begging a BlackBerry staff member to be allowed to reclaim her
position in the queue.
Sandy, a
Blackberry staff member, said the queue had begun forming from 4 p.m. the
previous day.
During the
promotion, in which the phones were sold for Rp 2.3 million ($260) at just half
the normal retail price of Rp 4.6 million.
Though each
person was initially told that they needed to collect a red bracelet from management
before they could purchase a phone, the rule was abandoned as the size of the
crowd grew on Friday morning.
“The rules
have changed,” said Karim, who had been queuing since early Friday morning. “At
9 a.m., the management said that everyone in the queue would definitely get [a
phone], with or without the red bracelet.”
Speaking to
the Globe at 10:40 a.m., forty minutes before the phones began selling, Karim
said he was still unsure whether he would be able to get into the mall.
At 11 a.m.
police were again called into action as frustration again threatened to boil
over.
“Everyone,
please be patient and stand in line,” a police officer yelled through a
megaphone. “Please do not push each other! Everyone who has queued will
definitely get a phone. Please remember your own safety.”
Arifin, a
security guard with a rottweiler police dog, said the situation remained tense.
“The
situation is manageable now, as long as the crowd stay in order.”
Despite the
assurances of both BlackBerry and the police the event was closed prematurely
at 1.30 a.m., again sparking anger.
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