Barnet Festival Fire and Crowd Surge Hospitalize 3 After Gates Reopen
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 2
Barnet Festival Fire and Crowd Surge Hospitalize 3 After Gates Reopen
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 2
Summary
Three people were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after a fire near the entrance to Ghana Party in the Park triggered crushing at Copthall Playing Fields in Barnet.
A small fire forced the gates to close at about 18:00 BST, police said, and a crowd built up before surging when the entrance reopened.
Twenty-three people received medical help, including nine assessed by the London Ambulance Service, as police, firefighters, ambulance crews and an air ambulance responded.
Organisers stopped the festival on health and safety grounds, saying the incident was deeply upsetting and denying online speculation of any stabbings or deaths.
The Metropolitan Police said officers formed a barrier to protect people on the ground and the event ended early, with crowds leaving without further incident.