Fears over mass pillow fight plan

Police in Leeds are trying to stop a so-called flashmob event planned for the city this weekend fearing it could descend into a mass brawl.

Sunday's gathering was advertised on the social networking website Facebook as a harmless pillow fight.

But police said they were concerned it could spark major public disorder.

The organiser removed the item from the website on police advice, but 500 people had already said they planned to attend the event at Woodhouse Moor.

West Yorkshire Police said they did not know if the planned fight would go ahead but extra officers would be sent to the area to ensure there was no public disorder.

The last thing we want is for a thousand drink-filled youths fighting each other Insp Dave Buggs

It comes just 11 days after a mass water fight organised on the internet caused thousands of pounds of damage to a public garden in Leeds city centre.

About 350 people, armed with water pistols and buckets, turned up at Millennium Square on 7 May after an open invitation was posted on Facebook.

West Yorkshire Police said their concern about the pillow fight was that it was an unlicensed event.

Insp Dave Buggs said: "We are not about oppressing people, we are not about running a police state.

"We have no problem with people having fun, but what the concern is that it will escalate into something a lot worse than that and we could have public order offences.

"The last thing we want is for a thousand drink-filled youths fighting each other and getting the wrong idea.

"That could turn into something a lot more awful that we're not able to sort of police."

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