Firecrackers and stones thrown at markets in Germany
Thousands of people walk in vain at the fake parade
On the afternoon of October 26, the weekend before Halloween Day, citizens dressed in costumes are taking commemorative photos in the Hongdae area of Mapo-gu, Seoul. [사진 연합뉴스]
[이코노미스트 선모은 기자] As Halloween festivities take place all over the world, news of accidents is also coming out.
According to local media such as the Associated Press, two people were killed and seven injured in a shooting at a Halloween street festival held on the 1st (local time) in Orlando, Florida. The shooting occurred at 1 a.m. in a bar and restaurant district in Orlando, with thousands of people in costume filling the streets. People who were startled by the sound of gunshots ran away, and some victims were stepped on.
Police arrested the 17-year-old suspect at the scene and confiscated the firearm. The suspect was charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder with a firearm. It is reported that the police have not yet determined the motive for the crime. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer declared a state of emergency in the city’s entertainment district and banned the sale of alcohol after midnight for the next seven days.
Halloween riots broke out in Germany that day. On Halloween evening, masked people randomly threw firecrackers and stones at paramedics and the mayor in a city in western Germany, according to local media outlets such as DPA news agency. Police have taken 13 people into custody and are investigating them on suspicion of injury and property damage.
In Dublin, Ireland, thousands of people were fooled by a Halloween parade scam. According to AFP, ahead of Halloween, information was released on social media (SNS) platforms such as TikTok and Instagram that a Halloween parade would be held in downtown Dublin. Thousands of people gathered to see this, but the police said the parade information was false and asked them to disperse safely.
Mexican authorities work at a crime scene on October 25 in Mexico’s northwestern Sinaloa state, where violence broke out. [사진 REUTERS/연합뉴스]
In Mexico, security has deteriorated so much due to the spread of criminal gangs that state authorities have banned residents from dressing up for Halloween. The state of Sinaloa in northwestern Mexico is known to be the home of the Sinaloa Cartel, a large-scale criminal organization. Since September of this year, hundreds of people have died or died due to factional fighting within this criminal organization. The Mexican federal government deployed troops to the area to maintain security.
In Tokyo, Japan, Shibuya Ward, a downtown area where many young people gather and a popular Halloween spot, appealed to citizens and tourists not to visit the area around Shibuya Station, citing concerns about safety accidents. According to local media such as NHK, Shibuya Ward banned street drinking around JR Shibuya Station and asked convenience stores to refrain from selling alcohol.
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