Four people are in critical condition following a crush at the Brixton O2 Academy in south London during a concert.
At 21:35 GMT on Thursday, during Asake’s performance, the police were contacted. Four additional people were brought to the hospital, and the remainder of the event was canceled.
Social media footage depicts a growing gathering outside the site.
One witness estimated that well over one thousand people attended the concert without tickets.
It was the third of three sold-out performances by the Nigerian artist, also known as Mr. Money, at the Academy. Before the performance, Asake had posted on Twitter a request for supporters not to attempt admittance without tickets.
Asake stated in a statement on the artist’s Instagram account: “My heart goes out to anybody who was hurt or caused distress last night. I pray you to get better soonest.
“In addition, I am currently reaching out to individuals. I still do not have a complete briefing from the venue management on what caused the disturbance at the Brixton Academy entry, but we are grateful that everything ended peacefully.”
One of the injured individuals, who was transported to St. Thomas’ Hospital with probable internal bleeding told.
The Battersea, south London, the resident stated: “I was just waiting in line to give them my ticket when the mob outside became frantic; they pushed me to the ground.
“As I attempted to stand up, people stepped on my head and were all over me. More than ten people were on top of me.”
I was terrified.
She revealed the anxiety she had while lying on the ground: “I was unable to breathe and I blacked out. I believed I was dead.
I drew my final breath and was unable to receive any more air. I was terrified.
“A man dragged me to safety, and when I awoke, I was in the back of an ambulance.”
The woman, who sustained skinned knees and a black eye, stated that she was still in astonishment at what had transpired.
“I’m simply thankful that I have no broken bones; they feared I had internal bleeding, but a CT scan revealed that I’m fine.”
In social media footage, the crowd can be seen stretching from the street to the doors of the venue, with individuals screaming, shouting, and wrestling.
A video captured outside the Academy depicts hundreds of people on a side street, with a woman audibly stating that people are pushing one another.
John, age 32, who lives adjacent to the O2, stated: “I observed everyone at the entrance of Brixton Academy, thereafter everything just ceased.
“The concert appeared to be canceled, and then there was a ruckus, some pushing, and shoving, and the cops arrived shortly thereafter. At that point, everything escalated and got aggressive.
“People at the Brixton Academy’s entrance were pushing and shoving and attempting to break through the door,” he added. The glass in the doors was shattered.
Jason Okundaye, a journalist and author who was present outside the venue at the time, reported that Academy officials “had no contact whatsoever.”
He said that he returned home after observing the hazardous conditions, stating, “Outside the arena was extremely perilous, with slick conditions due to the earlier snowstorm, low temperatures, a confused crowd, and aggressive police dogs that made a massive crush inevitable.” The Metropolitan Police stated that no canines were utilized in the reaction.
Dispersed railings
According to its website, the O2 Academy, Brixton has a standing capacity of roughly 5,000 people.
The proximity of the event to the Brixton police station partially explains the prompt response on Thursday night. There are numerous officers on the scene, and there is broken glass on the ground near the venue’s entrance.
Underneath a “sold out” sign, the strewn metal railings on the street attest to the chaos that prevailed.
Cpl. Ade Adelekan of the Metropolitan Police stated that specialist officers will inspect the crime scene as part of an inquiry that will be “as comprehensive and forensically sound as necessary.”
He said: “This traumatic occurrence has left four persons in serious condition in the hospital. I am thinking and praying for them and their families.”
Scotland Yard stated that the Met Police’s directorate of professional standards will review all evidence, including body-worn video footage from officers on the scene.
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, tweeted that he was “heartbroken”
Mr. Khan continued, “My sympathies are with everyone impacted by the terrible incident at Brixton Academy.”
Rarely do serious crushes occur at British concerts?
David Cassidy’s 1974 concert at the White City Stadium in London resulted in the death of a 14-year-old fan and the injuries of 700 others.
Guns ‘N Roses’ 1988 performance in a muddy Castle Donington, Leicestershire, at the Monsters of Rock festival resulted in a crowd rush that claimed the lives of two people.
Although no injuries were recorded, the Liverpool M&S Bank Arena, where next year’s Eurovision Song Contest will be hosted, opened an investigation earlier this year after fans complained of congestion at a concert by local star Jamie Webster.
In the wake of the catastrophe at Travis Scott’s Astroworld event in Texas in November 2021, in which 10 people were killed, it has become commonplace for artists to interrupt their performances if they believe there may be a problem in the crowd.
