Crime Plagues GTAIV Launch in Britain

Brutal Mugging, Stabbing Reported

It is both disturbing and fitting that, in the now almost normal occurrences of grand launches for everything games, some opt to take it to the extreme.

The BBC reports two violent incidents in Britain today regarding the worldwide launch of Grand Theft Auto IV.  The less severe one occurred in Lancashire, where an 18 year old who just got his hands on the game at a Blockbusters, along with his friends, were attacked.  The 18 year old was allegedly kicked and punched, and the victim suffered a broken nose and jaw before having GTAIV wrestled from his hands.  He was taken to hospital for treatment.

The more severe attack was a stabbing outside the Croydon Gamestation.  Up to a hundred people were witness to a 23 year old in line for the game allegedly stabbing a passer-by several times.  The victim was taken to hospital and treated for the wounds.  The alleged perpetrator there was thought to be 21 years old, and still on the loose.

GTAIV is in the news today, the game did launch to massive fanfare around the world.  Entertainment Consumers Association president Hal Halpin will be on the CBS Evening News in just a few minutes (6.30 / 5.30 Eastern/Pacific) to talk about the launch.