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July Fourth chaos erupted over the weekend on the West Coast. More than 400 teens and young people were arrested during a massive teen takeover event in Newport Beach, California.
Police say the mob descended upon the Balboa Peninsula neighborhood on July 4, with videos shared on social media depicting the madness with crowds appearing to set off fireworks in the middle of roadways, block busy streets and cause damage to local businesses.
From Friday, July 3, through Sunday, July 5, police made 402 arrests, with the local fire department responding to 102 emergencies, including 10 fires; it is unclear if the fires and emergencies were related to the illegal takeover event.
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In a post to social media, the City of Newport Beach said in part:
“Social media posts drew a large influx of juveniles and young adults to the Newport Pier area within a matter of minutes. As the crowd quickly grew into the thousands, dangerous and unlawful behavior escalated, blocking roadways, preventing emergency access and putting families, visitors and first responders at risk.”
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More videos shared online appear to show possible damage at a Pavilions grocery store in the area. Smashed produce and trash were seen strewn around the parking lot over the weekend.
“The safety and well-being of our customers and associates is our top priority,” Albertsons, the company that owns the Pavilions grocery store, told Fox News Digital. “During the incident in the parking lot at our Newport Beach Pavilions, we secured the interior of the store, and all associates remained safe. While some exterior product displays were damaged, the store itself did not sustain any physical damage. The store reopened yesterday morning and is operating as normal.”
WATCH: Newport Beach ‘TikTok takeover’ leaves 44 injured, hundreds arrested during July 4 mayhem
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The president of the Newport Beach Police Association, Joe DeJulio, posted a statement to social media that said, “a large group of agitators invaded Newport Beach spurred by an alleged ‘TikTok Takeover.’ These persons came to our city with the intent on causing harm, injury, and destruction, bringing harassment, disturbances, and mayhem.”
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A spokesperson for TikTok confirmed to Fox News Digital any content posted on the platform that promotes theft, property damage, criminal activity, or dangerous behaviors that could cause serious harm, violates the app’s Community Guidelines.
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