There was a mad stampede in the Metropol Theatre last night when four smoke bombs were thrown toward the stage at about 10 pin. At the time of the outrage the cinema, one of the Asia Theatres concerns, was crowded with patrons, including many foreigners, who were witnessing the screening of "The Sea Hawk" with Errol Flynn, which has been drawing record attendances at both the Grand and the Metropol during the past few days.
As they fell the bombs ignited and poured forth choking clouds of smoke, which caused a panic in the dense crowd in the stalls, Immediately there was a rush to the exits and the show was stopped while attendants ran to deal with the smoking bombs. Luckily no one was hurt during the stampede and no damage was caused by the bombs.
A call was put through to Louza police station immediately after the outrage and several persons were detained for questioning by the SMP.
Poliçe officials discounted the report that the bomb throwing had a political background and placed more credence on reports that racketeers were attempting to intimidate the owners of the cinema.
A large crowd collected outside the cinema as people rushed out and police riot vans tore along Vu Ya Ching Road to unload police in bulletproof waistcoats who surrounded the theatre. A similar outrage was perpetrated at the Strand Theatre on May 17.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.