A beach party calls for a curfew – NBC10 Philadelphia

Authorities in New Jersey’s beach community imposed a curfew on Saturday night after thousands of people threw themselves on the sand on the hottest day of the year.

Officials said the huge size of the crowd that had gathered in the afternoon threatened public safety on the Jersey shores. It is reported that several fights began, which caused a “public safety emergency” and a curfew at 21:00 in Long Branch.

By the end of the night, police had detained 15 people, four minors and 11 adults, in connection with the fighting.

Thousands of young people traveled to the beach by train to take part in a “pop-up party” advertised on social media, city officials said.

The chaos peaked by evening when police from several agencies responded to the beach community and tried to control the crowd. Officers in helmets and shields were deployed.

Tensions escalated when police used at least one blast and smoke “in response to a brawl and throwing bottles and stones where the crowd did not disperse,” the district attorney said.

Shortly after curfew at 9pm, police blocked the area and most of the crowd left the area. Countless bottles and other rubbish scattered on the beach were found after Saturday’s party.

The district attorney said one police car was broken into, but no other damage or damage was received.

Saturday’s hustle and bustle came after a beach frenzy last summer that forced Long Branch to postpone a fireworks show on July 4th.

The curfew was scheduled to be lifted at 5 a.m. Sunday.