Middlesex County malls hit by TikTok-fueled brawls two weekends in a row

Police say that as many as 500 juveniles showed up to a TikTok pop-up party at the carnival in Woodbridge on Saturday.

Lauren Due

May 27, 2025, 10:28 AM

Updated yesterday

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Police in Middlesex County have responded to viral TikTok meetups at New Jersey malls for the past two weekends in a row.
Police say that as many as 500 juveniles showed up to a TikTok pop-up party at the carnival in Woodbridge on Saturday.
Police say that the fair stopped letting people in by 7 p.m. Saturday. This is when multiple fights broke out before the crowd moved over to the Woodbridge Center mall.
Authorities say that officers from five surrounding towns responded to the mall to help get the crowd under control. Everyone was gone by 10 p.m.
This incident comes after seven teens were arrested on May 17 for a similar incident at the Menlo Park Mall in Edison.
Officials say that hundreds of teens showed up to a TikTok gathering before it turned into a brawl. It took officers from nine different police departments to get that crowd under control.
News 12 has reached out to other police departments in towns that have malls to see if they are aware of any potential events.
Bridgewater police said it is aware of social media indications that the Bridgewater Commons Mall may be the next location. It released a statement:
"To our young community members: we urge you to consider the consequences of your actions. What may seem like a fun or harmless activity can have lasting implications; both legally and personally. These pop-up events, while often promoted as social gatherings, can quickly escalate into dangerous situations, putting everyone at risk."