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Luton carnival: 'Ugly' scenes and arrests after event | Luton carnival: 'Ugly' scenes and arrests after event |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Four people were stabbed during "ugly" scenes of disorder after the end of Luton Carnival, police have said. | |
Officers formed cordons to keep groups of youths apart when trouble broke out in the town centre at about 20:15 BST. | |
Missiles were thrown at officers, who also used batons to break up fights, and six people were arrested. The carnival itself passed off peacefully. | |
Bedfordshire Police appealed for information and video footage, some of which has been posted online. | Bedfordshire Police appealed for information and video footage, some of which has been posted online. |
Police said the carnival, in Wardown Park, finished at about 18:00 BST and had passed smoothly. | |
But later a large fight broke out in the St George's Square area and four people were taken to hospital with stab wounds. Several others were less seriously injured and required treatment. | |
'Utter disrespect' | 'Utter disrespect' |
Ch Supt David Boyle said: "The carnival itself passed peacefully and safely, as it has done for several years, and it is completely unacceptable that some people have attempted to ruin that. | Ch Supt David Boyle said: "The carnival itself passed peacefully and safely, as it has done for several years, and it is completely unacceptable that some people have attempted to ruin that. |
"It is disappointing... we have seen a small minority of people causing ugly scenes across the town centre." | "It is disappointing... we have seen a small minority of people causing ugly scenes across the town centre." |
One man and five youths were arrested and were being held in police custody. | |
Hazel Simmons, Luton Council leader, said those responsible had "shown complete and utter disrespect to the town and its people". | Hazel Simmons, Luton Council leader, said those responsible had "shown complete and utter disrespect to the town and its people". |
"We should all be sitting back and celebrating what was a fantastic spectacle with thousands of people coming out and enjoying a wonderful carnival event," she added. | "We should all be sitting back and celebrating what was a fantastic spectacle with thousands of people coming out and enjoying a wonderful carnival event," she added. |