SYDNEY (AFP) – Australian police Monday shut down a concert by teenage Canadian singer Justin Bieber over crowd safety fears after young fans were injured in surges hours before the free event was due to start.
Sixteen-year-old Bieber had been slated to sing three songs from the Sydney Harbour foreshore venue early Monday but the event was cancelled after thousands of fans, many of whom had been camping out overnight, began pushing.
“Police at the event were concerned for the 4,000 excited people already in attendance with many more anticipated to arrive prior to the start of the performance,” New South Wales police said in a statement.
“All those removed from the area have so far suffered only minor injuries and have been treated at the scene.”
Bieber, who later sang one song live on local television, apologised to those who had waited to see him perform at his only Australian gig.
“I am so sorry that it got out of control, we don’t want anyone to get hurt. It gets crazy sometimes,” he said.
On the micro-blogging site Twitter, Bieber said that he was “just as disappointed as everyone else” that the concert did not go ahead.
“I woke up this morning to the police canceling the show for safety reasons,” he wrote. “I love my fans… I love it here in Australia… and I want to sing.”
Bieber rose to fame with his global hit “One Time”.