Man Arrested After Pepper-Spraying Incident at Bucharest Pastry Shop

A dispute involving a 52-year-old man, reportedly intoxicated, escalated into a physical altercation and the use of pepper spray at a busy pastry shop in Bucharest's Amzei Square. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, August 23, began when the man allegedly approached two women, demanding money and uttering insults.

When one of the women refused his demands, the man reportedly attempted to physically assault her. The woman's partner intervened to push the man away, at which point the woman deployed pepper spray against him. The commotion drew in other individuals queuing for pastries at the popular "Nea Mihai" shop.

Police were alerted via emergency services and arrived at the scene to identify those involved. While individuals stated they did not sustain injuries and did not wish to file complaints, officers decided to detain and handcuff the 52-year-old man to prevent further disturbances. He was subsequently transported to a medical facility for assessment.

The pepper spray used during the conflict was confiscated by the police, who are continuing their investigation to establish the full circumstances of the incident. The event at the pastry shop gained further attention due to a recent online debate sparked by Edmond Niculușcă, a co-founder of the "La Mița Biciclista" project, who criticized the quality of the shop's pastries and those who buy them. This online exchange led to a social media event encouraging people to buy pastries from "Nea Mihai" in protest.