Oh, the horror!
It’s been some time since flashmobs [previously] have made the news, those sudden appearances of folks brought together by spur-of-the-moment phone calls to make music, protest, or simply clown around.
Passers-by are usually entertained or mildly amused by those sudden aggregations, but in today’s Europe, wracked by fears of terrorism, one flashmob has failed to amuse and offers us a glimpse of our new age.
From BBC News:
Five German women were arrested on Tuesday night when a flashmob stunt in a northern Spanish town sparked fears of a terror attack.
They have since been released but will be charged with public order offences.
Holidaymakers ran and hid from presumed attackers in Platja d’Aro after people pretended to be chasing a celebrity, shouting and taking photographs.
The panic turned into a stampede as bystanders mistook selfie sticks for weapons.
Eleven people were treated for bruising and heart palpitations. Three were taken to hospital.
We leave the last word to the Bard of Avon [The Tempest, Act V, Scene 1]:
How many goodly creatures are there here!How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,That has such people in ’t!
eats shoots 'n leaves 