UK
Five more stabbings and 230 arrests on closing day of Notting Hill Carnival
Five more people were stabbed and 230 were arrested on the closing day of Notting Hill Carnival.
The Metropolitan Police said officers “used their search powers to take weapons off the streets and prevent additional serious violence” after three people were stabbed at the event in west London on Sunday.
The force also recovered three firearms on Monday – two at the carnival itself and one during a vehicle stop in Harrow involving people believed to be travelling to the event.
Around one million people were expected to attend the two-day celebration of Caribbean culture this weekend, billed by its organisers as “the greatest community-led event on the planet”.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan, who was in charge of the policing operation, issued an appeal on Monday morning for anyone with information which could help prevent further violence to come forward.
He said the “vast majority” of people attend the event to have a good time, but Sunday had been “marred by unacceptable violence”.
In an update on Monday evening, the Met said that as of 22:50pm there had been five stabbings that day. The force added that two of the victims were in a life-threatening condition.
The Met said two people sustained slash wounds in Monday’s stabbings while one of the attacks involved a corrosive substance.
Pic: Reuters
A 32-year-old mother who was stabbed on Sunday remains in a life-threatening condition, the force added.
Police said the mother had been attending with her young child on what was supposed to be the “family day” of the celebrations.
The Met said 35 officers who were injured on Monday are receiving the force’s “full support”.
The 230 arrests made on Monday including 49 for possession of an offensive weapon, 37 for assault on an emergency worker and eight sexual offences.
There were also nine arrests for possession of class A drugs and 40 for possession of class B drugs.
A man wanted for attempted murder was also spotted at the carnival and arrested.
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In his appeal on Monday morning, DAC Adelekan said: “Yesterday we saw the first day of Carnival marred by unacceptable violence… We are tired of saying the same words every year. We are tired of telling families that their loved ones are seriously injured, or worse. We are tired of seeing crime scenes at Carnival.
“Carnival is a community event and the vast majority of people come to celebrate, to dance, to enjoy music and have a fantastic experience.
“It is the responsibility of all who value this event, who want to see it as the celebration it should be, to speak out and speak up about the violence that continues to overshadow it.”
The appeal was issued after 103 arrests were made on Sunday for violence, robbery, sexual offences, drug offences and possession of offensive weapons. Meanwhile, 18 officers were assaulted.
A samba dancer takes part in Notting Hill Carnival. Pic: Reuters
A 29-year-old man who was stabbed on Sunday remained in hospital in a non-life threatening condition as of Monday morning.
The third person stabbed on Sunday was a 24-year-old man who suffered non-life-threatening injuries and discharged himself from hospital.
The eight stabbings reported across this year’s two-day event follow the 10 that were reported last year and the seven recorded the year before, according to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request.
Notting Hill Carnival, which began in the 1960s, is one of the longest-running street parties in the UK.
It is free to all and culminates in a large parade on the Monday, filled with vividly costumed performers, music and dancing.
Around 7,000 officers were on duty for the bank holiday weekend event after the force said there would be a “very significant policing presence” this year.