South China Morning Post - 1st October 1998 - http://www.scmp.com/news/ RUTH MATHEWSON and CLIFFORD LO Police reinforcements are being called in to guard McDonald's outlets today after the stampede for Snoopy toys triggered violence. One irate customer was arrested for punching a McDonald's manager in Tuen Mun in a row over queue-jumping and police were called to a Tai Po store yesterday to settle another heated dispute. Queues are expected to lengthen today with the release of China Snoopy for National Day. Crowds have been growing since the controversial campaign to sell a different Snoopy every day at $6 each with Big Value Meals began three weeks ago. McDonald's said yesterday it had alerted the police so that officers could help to keep order. A 37-year-old customer was arrested after allegedly landing a blow on the 27-year-old manager at Tuen Mun's Leung Tak Street outlet. The manager, who was taken to hospital with chest pains, had failed to act against queue-jumpers, the arrested man told police. In another incident yesterday, a photographer taking pictures of queueing customers was chased and police had to be called to calm the situation. A McDonald's spokesman said restaurant managers had been told to allocate more staff to watching queues and traffic flow. ''We've alerted the police stations of different districts to see if they can be of help in situations where there are large crowds,'' she said. A ''last-minute plan'' by managers would allow buyers to order some Snoopies through McDonald's outlets from October 9 to 20 ************************************************************ This is a little bit old, but I thought it would get you in the mood for anti McDeath day next friday! > Police guard Swedish McDonald's to fend off attack > Reuters > Friday, September 25 1998 12:01 PM EDT <Picture: Reuters> > > STOCKHOLM, Sweden (Reuters) - Police surrounded a new McDonald's in > northern Sweden Friday to prevent an attack on the fast-food > restaurant > by protesters ahead of its grand opening. > > Some 50 students were demonstrating outside the restaurant in the > northern university town of Umea under the watchful eyes of about 15 > police after vandals broke windows and threw red paint on its outside > walls earlier this week. > > The restaurant was set to open later Friday and would be the fast-food > giant's first outlet in Umea. > > ``Young people here have started an anti-McDonald's campaign,'' > McDonald's spokeswoman Birgitta Mossberg told Reuters in Stockholm. > > She said the students were against multinational companies, but the > Umea > McDonald's would open regardless. > > Television showed signs the protesters made that accused McDonald's > trademark character Ronald McDonald of being an animal killer. > > Mossberg said 22 fur shops had been forced to close in Umea after > harassment and threats from youths. > > ``There are a lot of strong feelings up there,'' she said. >
