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| Met puts extra police on patrol to curb spread of London disturbances | Met puts extra police on patrol to curb spread of London disturbances |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Scotland Yard said on Wednesday that it would put extra officers on the streets as it tried to stop a spread of disturbances that included violent clashes with youths at three events across London. | Scotland Yard said on Wednesday that it would put extra officers on the streets as it tried to stop a spread of disturbances that included violent clashes with youths at three events across London. |
| The extra officers would be deployed throughout London after the clashes on Tuesday night amid sweltering summer heat appeared to catch police by surprise. | The extra officers would be deployed throughout London after the clashes on Tuesday night amid sweltering summer heat appeared to catch police by surprise. |
| Clashes between officers and hundreds of youths occurred at three separate London locations and police publicly said they wanted information about any further planned disturbances. | Clashes between officers and hundreds of youths occurred at three separate London locations and police publicly said they wanted information about any further planned disturbances. |
| During Tuesday evening’s trouble, members of the public and a police officer were stabbed, and a supermarket and McDonald’s restaurant were looted. | During Tuesday evening’s trouble, members of the public and a police officer were stabbed, and a supermarket and McDonald’s restaurant were looted. |
| Police said extra officers would be deployed up to the weekend and that no more leave would be allowed to ensure the Met had sufficient officers to quell any disorder. | Police said extra officers would be deployed up to the weekend and that no more leave would be allowed to ensure the Met had sufficient officers to quell any disorder. |
| Police are investigating the disturbances on Tuesday at a party in Hyde Park, an unlicensed music event at a Hackney council estate and a water fight in Burgess Park, south London, on the hottest day of the year. All three unlicensed events were promoted on social media. | Police are investigating the disturbances on Tuesday at a party in Hyde Park, an unlicensed music event at a Hackney council estate and a water fight in Burgess Park, south London, on the hottest day of the year. All three unlicensed events were promoted on social media. |
| Tuesday night’s trouble is concerning for police chiefs, who are hoping they have learned the lessons after riots in 2011 began in Tottenham, north London. Then, fanned by a lack of understanding on the part of police of the seriousness of the situation, the trouble spread across London and then England. | Tuesday night’s trouble is concerning for police chiefs, who are hoping they have learned the lessons after riots in 2011 began in Tottenham, north London. Then, fanned by a lack of understanding on the part of police of the seriousness of the situation, the trouble spread across London and then England. |
| As well as extra officers, the Met by Wednesday afternoon issued pictures of suspects sought in connection with the trouble in and around Hyde Park and said that detectives were trawling through CCTV and video footage shot by its officers and members of the public. | As well as extra officers, the Met by Wednesday afternoon issued pictures of suspects sought in connection with the trouble in and around Hyde Park and said that detectives were trawling through CCTV and video footage shot by its officers and members of the public. |
| Commander Nick Downing appealed for public help for “any information about future plans for such disorder”. | Commander Nick Downing appealed for public help for “any information about future plans for such disorder”. |
| He said: “Tonight, we’ve increased the number of police officers on duty, and cancelled any more leave so we keep extra officers out on our streets right through until the weekend.” | He said: “Tonight, we’ve increased the number of police officers on duty, and cancelled any more leave so we keep extra officers out on our streets right through until the weekend.” |
| Later the Met police said a 15-year-old boy was arrested in Burgess Park on Wednesday night on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon, but that there was no disorder similar to the violence on Tuesday evening. There had been a considerable police presence in the park following the stabbing of two teenagers on Tuesday. | |
| Downing said the three events on Tuesday were unplanned and that police had acted proportionately but had been faced with violence: “A lovely day in the capital turned violent in Hyde Park, Burgess Park and Stamford Hill last night after spontaneous events turned nasty and people attacked each other and the police. | |
| “We put in place a graduated policing response at each site, after talking to the people present failed to stop the situations.” | “We put in place a graduated policing response at each site, after talking to the people present failed to stop the situations.” |
| Related: Croydon bar accuses police of banning Jamaican bashment music | Related: Croydon bar accuses police of banning Jamaican bashment music |
| The violence at Burgess Park also spilled out to a nearby supermarket, where members of a crowd of about 200 people looted goods and two customers were injured. There were reports, too, that a branch of McDonald’s was shut down at Marble Arch, close to Hyde Park. | The violence at Burgess Park also spilled out to a nearby supermarket, where members of a crowd of about 200 people looted goods and two customers were injured. There were reports, too, that a branch of McDonald’s was shut down at Marble Arch, close to Hyde Park. |
| Scotland Yard said it did not think the disturbances at Hyde Park, the Stamford Hill estate in Hackney and at Burgess Park were linked, but they acknowledged the similarities as they urged people to rethink attending unlicensed events. | Scotland Yard said it did not think the disturbances at Hyde Park, the Stamford Hill estate in Hackney and at Burgess Park were linked, but they acknowledged the similarities as they urged people to rethink attending unlicensed events. |
| Police said the events at Hyde Park and Stamford Hill were unlicensed music events, while the event at Burgess Park was “a large gathering where people had started fighting”. | Police said the events at Hyde Park and Stamford Hill were unlicensed music events, while the event at Burgess Park was “a large gathering where people had started fighting”. |
| In a bid to thwart further disturbances, Met chiefs have deployed a multi-pronged strategy. | In a bid to thwart further disturbances, Met chiefs have deployed a multi-pronged strategy. |
| It is hoped extra officers will quickly quell or deter trouble, but they are also political cover in case of fresh violence on the streets, showing that police chiefs had taken the situation seriously. | It is hoped extra officers will quickly quell or deter trouble, but they are also political cover in case of fresh violence on the streets, showing that police chiefs had taken the situation seriously. |
| The Met also said its homicide and major crime command was leading the hunt for troublemakers and would use “their resources and expertise to quickly identify, arrest and bring to justice those who committed crime, including grievous bodily harm, robbery, criminal damage and violent disorder”. | The Met also said its homicide and major crime command was leading the hunt for troublemakers and would use “their resources and expertise to quickly identify, arrest and bring to justice those who committed crime, including grievous bodily harm, robbery, criminal damage and violent disorder”. |
| A third element was a direct appeal to parents and guardians to stop their children going to unlicensed music events. | A third element was a direct appeal to parents and guardians to stop their children going to unlicensed music events. |
| Commander Ben-Julian Harrington said: “If you are a parent and know your child is going out tonight, check that where they are going is safe for them. It’s quite simply not worth the risk to go along to an event that could quickly spiral out of control.” | Commander Ben-Julian Harrington said: “If you are a parent and know your child is going out tonight, check that where they are going is safe for them. It’s quite simply not worth the risk to go along to an event that could quickly spiral out of control.” |
| At Hyde Park, about 2,000 people attended an event promoted on social media as “Bashment in the park” – a reference to a form of Jamaican music – although police said it was a “spontaneous water fight”. | At Hyde Park, about 2,000 people attended an event promoted on social media as “Bashment in the park” – a reference to a form of Jamaican music – although police said it was a “spontaneous water fight”. |
| pic.twitter.com/iv57WJkB0T | pic.twitter.com/iv57WJkB0T |
| Five officers were injured, including one who was stabbed and another who was bottled, while three members of the public were wounded. Initial reports said two members of the public were stabbed but no further details of their identities or condition were provided. | Five officers were injured, including one who was stabbed and another who was bottled, while three members of the public were wounded. Initial reports said two members of the public were stabbed but no further details of their identities or condition were provided. |
| The Met said officers came under attack after attempting to stop participants setting up a sound system and the force is reviewing video footage shot from helicopters as well as from CCTV. | The Met said officers came under attack after attempting to stop participants setting up a sound system and the force is reviewing video footage shot from helicopters as well as from CCTV. |
| Witness video has since emerged on social media showing some members of the crowd shouting “black lives matter” as the disorder escalated. Another clip, seen by the Guardian, appears to show a man stabbing another man in the middle of the street. | Witness video has since emerged on social media showing some members of the crowd shouting “black lives matter” as the disorder escalated. Another clip, seen by the Guardian, appears to show a man stabbing another man in the middle of the street. |
| Harrington said: “If you have any footage that may help, or any information, then please get in touch with us.” | Harrington said: “If you have any footage that may help, or any information, then please get in touch with us.” |
| He added: “What took place wasn’t a group of people out enjoying the sunshine but crime and disorder, which is unacceptable. Officers are out on duty today and we want everyone in London to have a safe and enjoyable day. | He added: “What took place wasn’t a group of people out enjoying the sunshine but crime and disorder, which is unacceptable. Officers are out on duty today and we want everyone in London to have a safe and enjoyable day. |
| “If people are going to go to unlicensed or spontaneous events then please think very carefully: they are simply not safe. You do not have the protection of attending a well-organised and safe event. Parents and guardians are urged to think carefully about whether these sorts of events are where you want your children to go.” | “If people are going to go to unlicensed or spontaneous events then please think very carefully: they are simply not safe. You do not have the protection of attending a well-organised and safe event. Parents and guardians are urged to think carefully about whether these sorts of events are where you want your children to go.” |
| Police officers remained at Hyde Park until crowds dispersed at approximately 2.20am on Wednesday morning. | Police officers remained at Hyde Park until crowds dispersed at approximately 2.20am on Wednesday morning. |
| Mobile phone footage shared on social media showed young people vaulting over the counter of McDonald’s in Marble Arch, as crowds spilled out of neighbouring Hyde Park. | Mobile phone footage shared on social media showed young people vaulting over the counter of McDonald’s in Marble Arch, as crowds spilled out of neighbouring Hyde Park. |
| Families with children were in the branch as food and drink were looted, and staff were forced to retreat to a back room to wait for police, who were called at 9.15pm, the fast-food chain said. | Families with children were in the branch as food and drink were looted, and staff were forced to retreat to a back room to wait for police, who were called at 9.15pm, the fast-food chain said. |
| MACDONALDS AT MARBLE ARCH GOT FINESSED!!!! pic.twitter.com/RrZYCuMW7q | MACDONALDS AT MARBLE ARCH GOT FINESSED!!!! pic.twitter.com/RrZYCuMW7q |
| A McDonald’s spokeswoman said: “I can confirm that our Marble Arch restaurant was closed for a period on the night of 19 July due to customers entering the kitchen area. | A McDonald’s spokeswoman said: “I can confirm that our Marble Arch restaurant was closed for a period on the night of 19 July due to customers entering the kitchen area. |
| “Police were contacted by the restaurant team who attended and dealt with the situation, allowing us to reopen shortly after.” | “Police were contacted by the restaurant team who attended and dealt with the situation, allowing us to reopen shortly after.” |
| As the disorder in Hyde Park continued, about 500 to 600 youths were gathering in Burgess Park, Southwark, to take part in a water fight advertised via social media. | As the disorder in Hyde Park continued, about 500 to 600 youths were gathering in Burgess Park, Southwark, to take part in a water fight advertised via social media. |
| Small groups started fighting around 5.45pm, police said, escalating into a “large disturbance” in the park that spilled out into the nearby streets, with a crowd totalling between 1,000 to 1,500 people. | Small groups started fighting around 5.45pm, police said, escalating into a “large disturbance” in the park that spilled out into the nearby streets, with a crowd totalling between 1,000 to 1,500 people. |
| Two 16-year-old boys were stabbed. Neither suffered life-threatening injuries, though one remains in hospital. | Two 16-year-old boys were stabbed. Neither suffered life-threatening injuries, though one remains in hospital. |
| At 8pm, officers were sent to a supermarket on nearby Dunton Road after reports of a group of up to 200 people damaging the store and stealing items. Two female customers suffered minor injuries but did not require medical assistance. | At 8pm, officers were sent to a supermarket on nearby Dunton Road after reports of a group of up to 200 people damaging the store and stealing items. Two female customers suffered minor injuries but did not require medical assistance. |
| In north London, riot police were pelted with bottles and debris as they attempted to break up an illegal music event near Malvern House in Stamford Hill. About 400 revellers attended the block party, obstructing the roads to traffic as sound systems were set up in the street. | In north London, riot police were pelted with bottles and debris as they attempted to break up an illegal music event near Malvern House in Stamford Hill. About 400 revellers attended the block party, obstructing the roads to traffic as sound systems were set up in the street. |
| Police officers spoke to the unlicensed event organisers but the party continued, so Scotland Yard deployed the territorial support group, the force’s specially trained unit for dealing with spontaneous public disorder. | Police officers spoke to the unlicensed event organisers but the party continued, so Scotland Yard deployed the territorial support group, the force’s specially trained unit for dealing with spontaneous public disorder. |
| Police being pelted with objects in #StamfordHill. @NPASLondon circulating above. Video Credit J Allinson pic.twitter.com/DEEPqt0ofS | Police being pelted with objects in #StamfordHill. @NPASLondon circulating above. Video Credit J Allinson pic.twitter.com/DEEPqt0ofS |
| Dramatic images and video emerged on social media showing officers arriving in riot gear with makeshift missiles showering down on them. | Dramatic images and video emerged on social media showing officers arriving in riot gear with makeshift missiles showering down on them. |
| A statement from the Met said: “Bottles and objects were thrown at police from the crowds in the area. Some officers suffered minor injuries, none required hospital treatment. Three police vans were also damaged.” | A statement from the Met said: “Bottles and objects were thrown at police from the crowds in the area. Some officers suffered minor injuries, none required hospital treatment. Three police vans were also damaged.” |