Max's Mewsings

The stampede was prompted by an advertising campaign that promised $84 leather sofas and advised people to arrive at the store before 3:00am to get the best deals.

According to reports, some of those who arrived early "get the best deals" became agitated as some people jumped the queue while they waited. Some began to charge the door.

IKEA blames the chaos on an "unforeseen volume of customers" but that defence rings false. Anyone who has been to an IKEA on a Saturday knows that they are in a situation that could be considered on the precipice of chaos. It is also not the first time the company has faced a stampede at a store opening. In September of 2004, three died in the melee that greeted the opening of an IKEA store in the Saudi city of Jeddah.

IKEA should have expected the vast numbers of people and taken the appropriate security measures. After all, this is not the first time they have opened a store.

Further Reading:
Crush chaos at Ikea store opening (BBC)
'Slowly but steadily, madness descended' (The Guardian)
Bargains spark chaos at Ikea store launch (Daily Mail)
Stampede mars IKEA London opening (CNN)
Stampede at Opening of London IKEA Store (Associated Press)
Three die in Saudi shop stampede (BBC)