KPop Demon Hunters event at Glasgow Forge could have been 'disaster' after police called

A KPop Demon Hunters tribute event at a Glasgow shopping centre could have been a “disaster” after police were called to attend.

On Saturday, The Forge held a Christmas light switch-on with face painting, reindeer, and a grotto where children could meet Santa.

Live acts also took to a stage outside the Superdrug and Barrhead Travel units, where a tribute dedicated to the smash-hit Netflix movie Kpop Demon Hunters was scheduled to perform.

Lauren Innes attended the event with her five-year-old son and his grandmother. They were spending time in the soft-play after enjoying the funfair and the other activities on offer.

The family made their way to the staged area for 1.45pm, however, the mum described it as “mobbed”.

She lifted her son onto her shoulders, but the “pushing and shoving” in the crowd caused the five-year-old distress, and he decided he wanted to leave.

They left via the crowded escalator and returned to the car.

Lauren believes there were safety concerns if an emergency incident did occur.

She told STV News: “If there was a fire or if someone had taken unwell in the middle of that crowd it would have been a disaster.

“Don’t think they thought that amount of people would have been there, however, you’d think with the hype of this Kpop they would have known.

“I saw a few security staff, however, they just looked in shock at the amount of people there.”

Elizabeth McGoran managed to make her way to the front of the stage with her three daughters before a large crowd gathered and it became “mayhem”.

The mum watched as her daughters were pushed out of the way.

As the KPop Demon Hunters tribute act stepped onto the stage her youngest daughter, who is “obsessed” with the movie, burst into tears and said she wanted to leave.

Elizabeth has attended previous Christmas light events at the Forge and believes the one on Saturday was not “managed well at all”.

The event has had a significant impact on the mum’s five-year-old daughter.

Elizabeth told STV News: “She is refusing to go back to the shopping centre.

“It was too scary for her. If there was a fire or any other sort of incident it would have been carnage.

“They could have very easily said this is getting too dangerous. Even though it is a free event it should have been ticketed because KPop is very popular just now.

“There were people crowding on the escalators, it was insane.”

Police officers were sent to the shopping centre after being made aware of the large crowd. They assisted security staff already in attendance.

A Police spokesperson said: “We were made aware of reports regarding the volume of people at The Forge Shopping Centre on November 8, 2025.

“Officers attended and monitored the situation, working in liaison with centre management.”

The Forge Shopping Centre has been contacted for comment.