The Times
thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/three-stabbed-as-water-fight-turns-hyde-park-into-war-zone-fpw3fpq3h
At least five people were stabbed in violent outbursts across London during yesterday’s hot weather.
Violent crowd hurls bottles at police
In the worst youth violence since the 2011 riots, a water fight in Hyde Park escalated into a clash between police and thousands of revellers, leaving the banks of the Serpentine resembling a “war zone”.
Three people, including a police officer, were stabbed and four officers suffered other injuries. Scotland Yard said all five officers were taken to hospital for treatment and have since been discharged. The members of the public who were stabbed were taken to hospital. Their conditions are not thought to be life-threatening.
“The people of London this morning are waking up to what is unacceptable criminal violence,” Met police commander BJ Harrington said. Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, condemned the violence as unacceptable.
As well as the Hyde Park disturbance, police are investigating an unlicensed music event at a Hackney council estate and a water fight in Burgess Park in Southwark, south London, on the hottest day of the year so far. All three events were promoted on social media.
Witnesses described how Hyde Park — which was earlier filled with picnic baskets, tourists and families enjoying the sunshine — came to resemble a “war zone”.
Glass bottles were launched at officers as the sounds of smashed glass and firecrackers filled the air.
I think it’s more of a people versus police thing
Police had been at Hyde Park from 3pm after a large crowd gathered for a spontaneous water fight. As the number of revellers swelled to about 2,000, officers called for back-up as one party attempted to set up a sound system.
Riot police were later deployed amid accusations of racism and chants of “black lives matter” as the mob was driven back to Marble Arch.
A breakaway group stormed a nearby branch of McDonald’s, forcing staff to flee downstairs while dozens of teenagers leapt over counters, ransacking the shelves of food.
James Brilliant, 25, who works in PR, was at the park when he saw what he called a “spontaneous, panicked stampede” and initially thought it was a terrorist attack. “One minute everyone was jovially revelling in the sunshine, the next there were dozens of glass bottles flying through the air,” he said.
One man, who did not want to be named, sustained a cut to his foot. He told The Times that the clash was not about the sound system.
“To be honest, I think it’s more of a people versus police thing,” he said. “I think they [the police] tried to do something to someone so they tried to do something and people have done something back.”
Another park reveller, who did not want to be named, suggested that the origins of the confrontation were more sinister and may have been “to do with racism”.
“Look at the amount of black people here,” he said. “Think about it. If it was the other way around — with white people playing music — if wouldn’t have happened.” Asked if it could in any way be linked to incidents such as the recent confrontation in Baton Rouge, he said: “I don’t know, maybe.”
Mr Harrington denied that the disturbance, which involved a “hard core” of about 100 people, was associated with the Black Lives Matter movement. He added that the spell of hot weather was no excuse for violent criminal behaviour and added: “What took place wasn’t a group of people out enjoying the sunshine, but crime and disorder which is quite simply unacceptable.”
Meanwhile, in Burgess Park two 16-year-old boys were stabbed as disorder broke out among about 600 young people taking part in an end-of-term water fight, while a nearby supermarket was looted by up to 200 people. Neither of the boys suffered life-threatening injuries although one remains in hospital.
There was further disorder into the night when police were pelted with missiles as they moved 400 revellers from an illegal block party in Stamford Hill, north London.
A 15-year-old girl was also taken to hospital on Monday evening with suspected knife wounds to the head after hundreds gathered for a street party in St Mary’s Road, Harlesden, northwest London, police said. Two women, aged 31 and 35, were arrested on suspicion of GBH at a nearby flat and taken to a north London police station.