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(Canada) a crime in which multiple attackers assault an unsuspecting victim at once, usually without motive
What does "swarming" mean in Canadian legal and news slang?
It is used in Canada, especially in news reports and police statements, to describe a crime in which multiple attackers suddenly surround and assault an unsuspecting victim at once, typically without clear motive, often involving teenagers and sometimes filmed on phones. People typically say "There was a swarming downtown last night" or "Police are investigating a swarming at the mall." The term originated in Canadian law enforcement and journalism during the late 20th or early 21st century, as this pattern of group assault gained public attention.
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