Man stabbed in Ikea branch's midnight opening stampede

A man was stabbed and five other people received hospital treatment after thousands of bargain-hungry customers caused a stampede at the midnight opening of a new Ikea furniture store in north London, British authorities said yesterday.

The Swedish retailer expressed shock and regret at the incident.

The stabbing victim, a man in his 20s, was attacked near the Ikea store, a spokeswoman for London's Metropolitan Police said, adding that his condition did not appear life-threatening.

The new Ikea warehouse in Edmonton had been due to operate 24 hours to mark the opening, but shut until further notice after some 40 minutes because of the unexpectedly large crowds.

Some 6,000 people flocked to the furniture store, which had been offering special bargains including leather sofas for £45 pounds (Dh307).

Many customers abandoned their vehicles in the middle of a major road near the shop and walked to the store, causing severe traffic blocks, police said.

In addition to the stabbing victim, one patient was taken to hospital with chest pains and four others were treated for minor injuries, a London Ambulance Service spokesman said.

Assistant Divisional Officer William Bird, of the London Fire Service, said he had never seen anything like the crush before.

Three people died and 17 were injured in a stampede at the opening of an Ikea branch in Saudi Arabia last September.