Nine Teens Charged Following Alleged Brawl at Sydney Shopping Centre
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A disturbing incident unfolded at Sydney’s Broadway Shopping Centre on December 10, as nine teenagers now face charges related to an alleged brawl that terrified Christmas shoppers and families. The chaotic scene, captured on video and widely shared online, involved youths reportedly wielding metal chairs in a crowded food court.
Chaos Erupts During Holiday Shopping
Shortly before 6 p.m. on December 10, a confrontation allegedly broke out between a group of teenagers and another individual at the busy shopping center. Footage circulating on social media depicts a group running through the second-level food court, brandishing metal chairs. Authorities allege these chairs were thrown at the othre individual involved in the altercation.
Innocent bystanders found themselves caught in the crossfire, with reports indicating chairs fell onto the lower level, potentially striking shoppers below. Fortunately,no injuries were reported.
Police Investigation and Arrests
The New South Wales (NSW) police launched an immediate investigation following the incident. Seven teens, aged 15-17, were initially charged and are currently facing the courts. An 18-year-old was afterward arrested in the inner-city suburb of Newton on Tuesday, December 16, and charged with affray. He appeared in court and was granted bail, with a scheduled return to Downing Centre local Court on January 14, 2026.
Further investigation led to the arrest of a ninth teen, a 16-year-old, in Waterloo early Saturday, December 20. This individual has also been charged with affray and will appear in a children’s court at a later date.
Witness Accounts and Police Response
The incident sent shockwaves through the shopping center, particularly given the time of year. “There were kids taking Santa photos and they looked so scared, the parents were in genuine fear for their kids asking what was going on,” one witness recounted.
police believe the brawl stemmed from escalating tensions between two rival groups. Detective Chief Inspector Grant Watson stated, “We have been working very closely with those groups to try and resolve this issue. Sadly, it has spilt over into the shopping centre and it’s appalling it has spilt over into the shopping centre at Broadway where people were just going about their business.”
The alleged brawl attracted critically important attention online, with one video clip garnering over one million views.
Investigations are ongoing as authorities continue to assess the situation and gather further details.
Why did it happen? The brawl stemmed from escalating tensions between two rival groups of teenagers, according to police.Authorities had been working with the groups to de-escalate the situation, but tensions ultimately spilled over into the Broadway Shopping Centre.
who was involved? Nine teenagers, aged 15-18, have been charged in connection with the incident.Seven teens were initially charged, followed by an 18-year-old and then a 16-year-old.
What happened? A confrontation broke out between two groups of teenagers in the Broadway Shopping Centre food court on December 10. The altercation involved youths wielding and allegedly throwing metal chairs, causing fear among shoppers.
How did it end? Police launched an immediate investigation, leading to the arrest and charging of nine teenagers with offenses including affray. All are facing court proceedings, with the 18-year-old granted bail and scheduled to return to court in January 2026. Investigations remain ongoing.
