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Seven police injured while breaking up illegal music event in west London Sadiq Khan condemns police injuries at illegal west London party
(about 11 hours later)
Bricks were thrown at officers responding to complaints of noise, anti-social behaviour and violence London mayor says violence at White City event that left seven officers hurt was disgraceful
Seven officers have been injured after police interrupted an unlicensed music event in west London. The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, has condemned violence at a street party in west London as disgraceful after seven police officers were injured.
Police were called to White City on Friday evening following reports of a number of people gathered at an estate. Bricks and other missiles were thrown at officers as they tried to disperse the illegal rave in White City on Friday night.
A number of items were thrown at police when they attempted to engage the group, forcing the officers to retreat. It comes after police shut down several other parties in the capital in June, including an illegal rave on a Brixton estate where 22 officers were injured.
Officers trained to deal with public disorder then arrived on the scene to disperse the group and were met with further hostility and violence, police said. On Friday, officers in protective gear arrived in White City to reports of a disturbance and were met with further hostility and violence.
A dispersal zone has been authorised in the area while a section 60 order is also now in place. They cleared the area by about 1.15am. A Section 60 order, which allows officers to stop and search anyone in the vicinity, is now in place.
The police intervention follows a warning by the Met that it would crackdown on illegal parties that flouted social distancing rules. The intervention follows a warning from the Metropolitan police that it would crack down on illegal parties that flouted physical distancing rules.
Deputy assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor said seven officers had sustained injuries as a result of the clashes. Deputy assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor said seven officers had sustained injuries as a result of the clashes. “Officers have responded to residents complaining about a large gathering, noise, anti-social behaviour and violence,” he said. “These gatherings are illegal and also pose a risk to public health.
“Officers have responded to residents complaining about a large gathering, noise, anti-social behaviour and violence,” he said. “These gatherings are illegal and also pose a risk to public health.
“The violence shown towards officers this evening was totally unacceptable and we will not tolerate it in any form. Officers encountered bricks and other missiles being thrown at them.“The violence shown towards officers this evening was totally unacceptable and we will not tolerate it in any form. Officers encountered bricks and other missiles being thrown at them.
“Our robust police response demonstrated that we will police incidents like these firmly and stop those intent on causing harm or disruption to our communities.”“Our robust police response demonstrated that we will police incidents like these firmly and stop those intent on causing harm or disruption to our communities.”
Khan said: “It’s disgraceful that police officers came under attack with some suffering injuries at an illegal gathering in White City last night.
“Violence against the police will not be tolerated and perpetrators will be caught and prosecuted. Extra police will be out today continuing to work hard to keep our city safe.”
The incident follows mass street parties in Brixton, Notting Hill and Streatham last week.
After the most serious incident in Brixton on 24 June, the Met commissioner, Cressida Dick, said nearly 140 officers had been injured in the previous three weeks, including those hurt during protests called in response the death of George Floyd in the US.
Dick said the force would shut down what she described as appalling raves. The home secretary, Priti Patel, described the Brixton incident as “utterly vile”.
Three people who were arrested for violent disorder against police at the event have appeared in court and are awaiting sentencing or further trials.