This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/west_midlands/8360560.stm
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Scores hurt in lights switch-on | Scores hurt in lights switch-on |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| About sixty people have been injured during a crowd surge at Birmingham's Christmas lights switch-on. | About sixty people have been injured during a crowd surge at Birmingham's Christmas lights switch-on. |
| More than 20,000 people turned out for the event at Millennium Point, which had been due to feature acts including JLS and the Sugababes. | More than 20,000 people turned out for the event at Millennium Point, which had been due to feature acts including JLS and the Sugababes. |
| A city council spokesperson said more people than expected had turned out and they had feared for crowd safety. | A city council spokesperson said more people than expected had turned out and they had feared for crowd safety. |
| Reports suggested up to 27,000 people were at the site by the time band JLS finished performing at 1330 GMT. | Reports suggested up to 27,000 people were at the site by the time band JLS finished performing at 1330 GMT. |
| The council said a combination of fears over the number of people and bad weather led them to cancel the event. | The council said a combination of fears over the number of people and bad weather led them to cancel the event. |
| West Midlands Ambulance Service said four people were taken to hospital and a further 56 patients were assessed by ambulance crews in a make-shift triage area. | West Midlands Ambulance Service said four people were taken to hospital and a further 56 patients were assessed by ambulance crews in a make-shift triage area. |
| 'Absolute chaos' | |
| A spokeswoman said a woman in her 30s suffered serious crush injuries to her pelvis, shoulder and leg. | A spokeswoman said a woman in her 30s suffered serious crush injuries to her pelvis, shoulder and leg. |
| A second woman suffered a broken ankle, a teenage boy had a broken wrist and a teenage girl suffered crush injuries to her back and legs. | A second woman suffered a broken ankle, a teenage boy had a broken wrist and a teenage girl suffered crush injuries to her back and legs. |
| Martin Krol, who lives in a flat overlooking Millennium Point, said he saw people pushing at a fence at the front of the crowd. | Martin Krol, who lives in a flat overlooking Millennium Point, said he saw people pushing at a fence at the front of the crowd. |
| He said: "Police had already stopped people from going through into the main bit because there were so many of them, so an extra line of people had been created at the back of the main crowd. | He said: "Police had already stopped people from going through into the main bit because there were so many of them, so an extra line of people had been created at the back of the main crowd. |
| One person was carried out on a spinal board - and we saw a police officer injured too Martin Krol, eyewitness | One person was carried out on a spinal board - and we saw a police officer injured too Martin Krol, eyewitness |
| "The police were totally outnumbered - there were far too many people in the crowd for them to be able to cope. | "The police were totally outnumbered - there were far too many people in the crowd for them to be able to cope. |
| "It was absolute chaos - the ambulances couldn't get through - and it took quite a while for them to be able to clear the area because there were so many people. | "It was absolute chaos - the ambulances couldn't get through - and it took quite a while for them to be able to clear the area because there were so many people. |
| "We saw people who had been knocked unconscious and carried out into ambulances. One person was carried out on a spinal board - and we saw a police officer injured too." | "We saw people who had been knocked unconscious and carried out into ambulances. One person was carried out on a spinal board - and we saw a police officer injured too." |
| The area around Millennium Point has now been cleared and emergency crews were urging people to stay away from the area. | The area around Millennium Point has now been cleared and emergency crews were urging people to stay away from the area. |
| A council spokesman said the gates were closed after the square reached its capacity. | A council spokesman said the gates were closed after the square reached its capacity. |
| 'Very sorry' | 'Very sorry' |
| An emergency meeting was held between the council, emergency services and the joint organisers, radio station BRMB, and a decision was made to cancel the event. | An emergency meeting was held between the council, emergency services and the joint organisers, radio station BRMB, and a decision was made to cancel the event. |
| Joan Durose, head of events at the city council, said: "We are very sorry that the event has had to be cancelled. We know that people will be very disappointed, but the health and safety of the thousands of young people at the event was our prime concern." | Joan Durose, head of events at the city council, said: "We are very sorry that the event has had to be cancelled. We know that people will be very disappointed, but the health and safety of the thousands of young people at the event was our prime concern." |
| Leisure Sport and Culture chief Councillor Martin Mullaney said he fully supported the decision to abandon the concerts. | |
| "I would sooner read headlines about red faces than read headlines about a tragedy. | |
| "I'm sorry a lot of people went home disappointed and there will be a full investigation into what went wrong and what lessons can be learned for the future but I must stress that this was the correct decision in the circumstances," he said. | |
| Other acts that had been scheduled to appear as part of the five-hour event included Calvin Harris, Tinchy Stryder, Natalie Imbruglia, Chipmunk, Girls Can't Catch, Little Boots, The Saturdays, Alexandra Burke, The Noisettes, Taio Cruz and Pixie Lott. | Other acts that had been scheduled to appear as part of the five-hour event included Calvin Harris, Tinchy Stryder, Natalie Imbruglia, Chipmunk, Girls Can't Catch, Little Boots, The Saturdays, Alexandra Burke, The Noisettes, Taio Cruz and Pixie Lott. |
| The night was due to finish with a fireworks display. | The night was due to finish with a fireworks display. |
| Prior to the event, a statement on the city council website said: "In order to keep the area safe for everyone West Midlands Police have asked people not to bring their own alcohol, and not to bring valuables with them as a precaution. | Prior to the event, a statement on the city council website said: "In order to keep the area safe for everyone West Midlands Police have asked people not to bring their own alcohol, and not to bring valuables with them as a precaution. |
| "They hope people will refrain from any pushing and shoving, so that people of all ages can enjoy the concert comfortably." | "They hope people will refrain from any pushing and shoving, so that people of all ages can enjoy the concert comfortably." |
| The city's Christmas lights are now due to be switched on in Birmingham's High Street at 1630 GMT on Sunday. | The city's Christmas lights are now due to be switched on in Birmingham's High Street at 1630 GMT on Sunday. |
| Were you at the concert? Did you witness any of what happened? Please send us your comments using the form below. | Were you at the concert? Did you witness any of what happened? Please send us your comments using the form below. |
| Please send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Please send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| Please add your comments here: | Please add your comments here: |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |