Beyonce Ticket Sale Causes Stampede In Manchester: Fans 'Crushed' While Trying To Buy Tickets for 'Mrs. Carter World Tour'

Potential Beyonce tickets caused a mini-riot at the Manchester Arena box office last night. Queen Bey fans who had camped out overnight for "Mrs. Carter World Tour" tickets were turned away empty-handed when the crowd turned violent iprior to the the box office opening.

The trouble started when the arena opened up its doors at 530 A.M. to allow waiting Beyonce fans to enter.

"Unfortunately, when we opened our doors at 5.30am what had been an orderly queue immediately stormed the box office windows causing a potential crush," said an unnamed spokeperson for the arena in an interview with the Manchester Evening News.

Beyonce fan Sarah Miah, who was turned away after waiting 17 hours for tickets, described the scene to the Evening News.

"I stayed in the tunnel outside the Arena to avoid being crushed when all hell broke loose at about 5am," Miah said.

"Men were ripping open fire doors that were locked. Once opened, they fought to get through one side of a double door. Children were getting crushed and screaming. It was horrible. By far the worst night of my life."

Manchester Arena officials announced that the tickets would not on sale ten minutes prior to the box office opening, on the advice of local police.

"Despite the best efforts of our stewards and security staff we had to involve British Transport Police in an attempt to restore order," a spokesman said in an interview with Manchester Evening News Even then the safety of genuine fans could not be guaranteed and, following police advice, the box office remained closed."

Many of the problems seemed to stem from thuggish scalpers who were, according to reports, initimidating the fans waiting in line and forcing thier way through the crowds.

Online tickets for the 11-show UK leg of Beyonce's "Mrs. Carter World Tour" sold out within 12 minutes. The rush of fans buying tickets caused Ticketmaster to crash in the UK. Beyonce's world tour kicks off in Belgrave on April 15.