UK retailer suspends Labubu toy sales amid safety fears

London: A retailer in the UK has suspended in store sales ofLabubutoys amid rising concerns over public safety and staff threats, following reports of...

London: A retailer in the UK has suspended in-store sales of Labubu toys amid rising concerns over public safety and staff threats, following reports of global thefts and queue violence tied to the sought-after collectibles.

The plush toys, resembling a rabbit-like monster, have surged in popularity after endorsements from celebrities such as Rihanna and Dua Lipa.

Their limited availability has drawn buyers from abroad to the UK, with Pop Mart -- the distributor of Labubu dolls -- seeing overnight queues and chaotic scenes outside its flagship stores.

"This product, it has many, many fans from everywhere in the world and in some countries, it's not available for purchase, so there's many, many people who come to London just to purchase them," Engie, a supervisor at Pop Mart in London, told AFP.

"People wait for hours queuing up in front of the store and it's so sad to see them be disappointed, because the resellers create a really difficult environment for them, or they get violent... and we have nothing left for them," she added.