CHICAGO — Call it mindless behavior.
An appearance by a boy band of the same name at Ford City Mall preceded a fracas in which groups of teens reportedly ran amok in the mall and spilled out into the streets.
Several fights were reported, and security was forced to close the mall.
"Teenagers in attendance became rowdy and disruptive. Police were called to quell the disturbance," said Officer Veejay Zala, a police spokesman.
As many as 20 people were arrested, he said.
Dozens of police officers who were dispatched to the mall, 7601 W. Cicero Ave., tried to corral the crowd. CTA and PACE buses were dispatched to accommodate the teens.
About 100 teens were reported in a Firestone parking lot, and others were seen jumping on cars and trying to break car windows in a Sports Authority parking lot.
Fire Chief Joe Roccasalva said two people were transported with minor injuries. A bus driver was taken to Holy Cross Hospital and a teenager was taken to Christ Hospital.
"It's all over the neighborhood now," he said around 5:45. "It's spreading now."
The situation, which erupted before 5 p.m., was mostly in hand by 6:30 p.m.
A security guard at the mall could not comment on the situation.
The band was playing a show to promote its latest album, "All Around the World." It was scheduled to play another show at the Rich City Skate arena in suburban Richton Park, an performance billed as an anti-violence event.
