Yobs gained access to the roof of Liverpool's disused ABC cinema in Lime Street and began hurling objects at members of the public below.
Patrols were called to the scene at around 7pm on Friday (July 15). The former cinema has been disused for many years, and it is believed the thugs gained access through insecure metal boarding.
It's believed rough sleepers had first gained access to the building by this means, and the youths used the same opening to climb on to the roof.
READ MORE : Rain and thunderstorms predicted across Merseyside as heatwave comes to an end
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "At around 7pm on Friday, July 15, officers were called to a report of a group of males on the roof of the ABC cinema throwing items at members of the public. The group left the area when patrols entered the premises.
"Yesterday, Monday, July 18, officers attended the cinema with representatives from Liverpool City Council. They secured the metal boarding that had been damaged during the incident and was used by the group of males when entering the premises in order to prevent any further antisocial behaviour in the area."
The art deco cinema that overlooks St John's shopping centre, first opened as the Forum in 1931. It was renamed the ABC in 1971 and is still widely known by that name, despite the company changing hands in 1986, with the cinema being re-branded Cannon. The cinema closed its doors in January 1998 with a final showing of the film Casablanca.
Together with the Futurist and the Scala, it formed a chain of cinemas along Lime Street. However, the old ABC is now the only one still standing.
In November 2019, the council said a "number of options" were being considered for the future of the building, three years after it gave the green light to plans to turn it into a performance venue.
The latter was talked up as a state-of-the-art music and entertainment venue to host live performances inside the famous auditorium, holding up to 1,500 people. But little more was subsequently heard about the project.
For the latest news and breaking news visit http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/ .
Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.
Follow us on Twitter @LivECHONews - the official Liverpool ECHO Twitter account - real news in real time.
We're also on Facebook/theliverpoolecho - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
Reckless vandal caught on ring doorbell trashing car
Raoul Moat 'gone too soon' memorial removed by council
Fury as new 'car parks' created in popular Liverpool green spaces
No Arriva buses across Merseyside from tomorrow as continuous strike begins
Boy, 14, in critical condition after being pulled from the sea by teenage girls
