An annual pumpkin festival in New Hampshire, USA, went horribly wrong after a riot broke out during the yearly ritual of setting a record number of lit pumpkins in one location
(Image Courtesy: townnews.com)
The Keene Pumpkin Festival in New Hampshire devolved into chaos on Saturday with police firing what appeared to be tear gas at students who were reportedly throwing bottles, rocks and other objects.
The festival typically serves as a celebration of fall and a competition of sorts as locals try to set a world record for the largest number of pumpkins in one location (last year, festival-goers set a record with 30, 581 carved and lit jack-o-lanterns). However, that was not the case this year as thousands wreaked havoc throughout the night prompting aggressive reactions from local police to end the rioting.
(Image Courtesy: twimg.com)
Hundreds of young people descended on neighbourhoods around the pumpkin festival on Saturday, setting bonfires, throwing bottles and flipping some vehicles as police in riot gear tried to keep control, according to local news coverage. Officers made at least 12 arrests and had to resort to riot gear and tear gas to control the rowdy revelers.
(Image Courtesy: Keene Pumpkin Festival Facebook)
The Keene Pumpkin Festival has been going on for over 20 years and is a community event in which thousands come out and try to amass the largest number of carved and lit pumpkins in one place. An unfortunate conclusion to a quite popular American festival.
(Cover Image Courtesy: rt.com)