African festival in London descends into chaos with attendees 'carried out on stretchers' after stampede

A London music festival descended into chaos yesterday as attendees were "carried out on stretchers" after a stampede.

Twenty-three people were injured at Ghana Party in the Park in Copthall Playing Fields, Barnet, due to "crushing", the Metropolitan police have said.

Of the 23, nine people were were assessed by the London Ambulance Service and three were taken to hospital, the Met confirmed, but their injuries have been described as "non-life-threatening".

In one video posted on social media, a police officer tells festival goers: "There's been a massive accident, a stampede, which led to quite a lot of people getting hurt.

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"For that reason and for public safety, it has to be shut down."

The officer continued to say it the situation was not "ideal", acknowledging people had paid "good money" to attend the festival, but advised partiers to go to the organisers for refunds.

Videos on social media also show a fire breaking out at the festival, with flames being seen above the high fences enclosing the event.

The Met confirmed the "small fire on site" caused the stampede of attendees.

It said: "A small fire on the site, near to the entrance, had required the gates to be closed temporarily. A crowd built up and surged when the gates were reopened.

"Officers responded quickly and working alongside event organisers, they formed a barrier between the surging crowds and people on the floor. Officers gave initial medical care, including CPR, to those who had sustained injuries.

"They were joined by paramedics and firefighters as part of a coordinated multi-agency response."

One festival goer took to social media, describing the event as "dirty" and blaming "poor planning" for the festival's abrupt shutdown.

He wrote: "Fire outbreak at the Ghana Party in the Park. Poor planning lead to the collapse of Ghana Party in the Park.

"Dirty environment coupled with a dirty stage lead to this..."

Another said at the time: "Ghana Party in the Park, aka ShattaFest, has had a stampede, with people seriously injured.

"Two air ambulances (helicopters) have flown in to take some of the injured away.

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"People have been unable to get into the event since 2pm. There are probably 1,000 people outside right now."

The festival is hailed as the largest Ghanian event outside of the West African nation.

It has been running since 2005, attracting the capital's Ghanian diaspora to celebrate the country's "music, culture, food, fashion and community".

The festival's organisers issued a statement last night, saying: "Following the unfortunate incident at today's event, we wish to provide an update regarding the abrupt closure of Ghana in the Park.

"The decision to close the festival was made solely on the grounds of health and safety.

"Officers from the London Ambulance Service and the London Fire Brigade responded to a major incident on site.

"Following discussions with the emergency services and our health and safety team, it was agreed that closing the festival was the safest option in order to protect all attendees."

The statement followed false reports there had been stabbings at the London festival, but organisers assured no such behaviour took place.

They said: "They added: 'We would like to clarify that there were no incidents of stabbing and deaths as being speculated."

The Metropolitan Police echoed this, saying the speculation of stabbings was "inaccurate".

A spokesman said: "Officers are at Copthall Playing Fields where Ghana Party in the Park has been cancelled after an overcrowding issue at the entrance saw several people sustain non-life threatening injuries.

"Speculation about a stabbing is inaccurate. Please help us by avoiding the area."

GB News has reached out to the festival and Scotland Yard for further comment.

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