(CNN) -- Police have arrested several people after a "series of fights" at the nation's biggest mall sent chairs flying and caused after-Christmas shoppers to flee, the mall said Tuesday.
Mall security officers and police in Bloomington, Minnesota made several arrests, the Mall of America said. CNN affiliate KARE reported that nine people have been arrested, including several juveniles.
Video of one incident showed a man picking up a chair to throw as crowds of shoppers, some screaming, fled a mall food court. The video also showed a group of what appeared to be youths brawling before police officers intervened.
The incidents began about 4 p.m. Monday, when a group of individuals began fighting in the food court, KARE said. Police told the station several other fights flared up elsewhere in the mall at about the same time.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene.
"There were drinks thrown on the floor and chairs being thrown everywhere," witness Tess Dessalgne told KARE. She reported that "everyone started running toward the fight," while the video showed others leaving the area.
Another woman told CNN affiliate WCCO that she "didn't really know what was going on" when stores unexpectedly began closing down but soon saw police "pushing us all away from Nordstrom."
"Unfortunately, as we have witnessed at shopping sites across the country this week, large groups of individuals can come together and create bad situations," said the mall statement. "It is very unfortunate to see these incidents occurring, especially during the holiday shopping season when families are out spending time together."
No serious injuries were reported, the statement said. The mall remained open, although some stores closed down temporarily.
Some witnesses told WCCO the fights began after reports that rappers Lil' Wayne and Drake were visiting the mall. Police would not comment, WCCO reported. However, the mall on Twitter responded to a query by saying, "Drake is not here."
"There was no shooting," the mall tweeted to one person. "Chairs were thrown in the food court resulting in the loud noise you heard."
"Any time you have a large group of people together, things can happen," Bloomington police Cmdr. Mark Stehlik told KARE. "But this is highly unusual."
At one point, 30 officers were involved, he said. "What we tried to do was push people out of the mall in an effort to get this disturbance under control."
Bloomington police did not immediately return a call from CNN on the matter Tuesday.
The Mall of America describes itself as the largest retail and entertainment complex in the United States. It says it has more than 520 stores, 50 restaurants and attractions that include an aquarium, flight simulator and a spa for children.
Mall security officers and police in Bloomington, Minnesota made several arrests, the Mall of America said. CNN affiliate KARE reported that nine people have been arrested, including several juveniles.
Video of one incident showed a man picking up a chair to throw as crowds of shoppers, some screaming, fled a mall food court. The video also showed a group of what appeared to be youths brawling before police officers intervened.
The incidents began about 4 p.m. Monday, when a group of individuals began fighting in the food court, KARE said. Police told the station several other fights flared up elsewhere in the mall at about the same time.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene.
"There were drinks thrown on the floor and chairs being thrown everywhere," witness Tess Dessalgne told KARE. She reported that "everyone started running toward the fight," while the video showed others leaving the area.
Another woman told CNN affiliate WCCO that she "didn't really know what was going on" when stores unexpectedly began closing down but soon saw police "pushing us all away from Nordstrom."
"Unfortunately, as we have witnessed at shopping sites across the country this week, large groups of individuals can come together and create bad situations," said the mall statement. "It is very unfortunate to see these incidents occurring, especially during the holiday shopping season when families are out spending time together."
No serious injuries were reported, the statement said. The mall remained open, although some stores closed down temporarily.
Some witnesses told WCCO the fights began after reports that rappers Lil' Wayne and Drake were visiting the mall. Police would not comment, WCCO reported. However, the mall on Twitter responded to a query by saying, "Drake is not here."
"There was no shooting," the mall tweeted to one person. "Chairs were thrown in the food court resulting in the loud noise you heard."
"Any time you have a large group of people together, things can happen," Bloomington police Cmdr. Mark Stehlik told KARE. "But this is highly unusual."
At one point, 30 officers were involved, he said. "What we tried to do was push people out of the mall in an effort to get this disturbance under control."
Bloomington police did not immediately return a call from CNN on the matter Tuesday.
The Mall of America describes itself as the largest retail and entertainment complex in the United States. It says it has more than 520 stores, 50 restaurants and attractions that include an aquarium, flight simulator and a spa for children.