Five people were reportedly hospitalised in the crush after as many as 6,000 people turned up for the opening event. However, police said the stabbing of a 20-year-old man that occurred in the area, cited in earlier reports, was unrelated.
The retailer said in a statement it regretted having to close the store on opening night, but said: 'The decision was made in the interest of health and safety of all Ikea customers and co-workers. An unforeseen volume of customers turned out for the midnight opening. The store will remain closed until further notice.'
Shoppers started queuing early yesterday afternoon, with about 40 hopefuls waiting outside the door by 6pm. By midnight, the crowd had swelled to 3,000 shoppers hoping to snap up discounted leather and fabric-upholstered sofas.
When the doors opened, the queue outside disintegrated as customers surged forward. Inside, the 150 leather and 300 fabric sofas that were on offer for£45 sold out in 51 minutes. Some shoppers were seen stockpiling sofas, while others fought over those that remained.
Look out in next week's edition of Retail Week for an eyewitness account of what went on at the opening of Ikea's Edmonton store.
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