London festival 'stampede': Multiple people injured in 'crush' at music event in park

Multiple people were injured at a festival in north London after a "stampede" that saw the event cancelled.Ghana Party in the Park at Copthall Playing Fields in Barnet on Saturday was forced into an “abrupt closure” after an “overcrowding issue”, police and organisers said. Several festivalgoers suffered “non-life threatening injuries” following a “crush”.Disturbing footage shared online from the event showed chaotic scenes with people falling to the ground as a crowd surged.Other footage from the event showed dozens of emergency vehicles, including air ambulances, present at the scene. One witness the Sun they saw at least three injured people being carried away on stretchers as medics attended the scene.18-year-old Kieran Turnbull said: “We saw this stampede coming through the main entrance.“At the bit where they do the bag and clothing searches everyone was just pushing through,” he said.“People were being carried out on stretchers. It became very very chaotic.”Another told the Daily Mail : “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.“People have been unable to get into the event since 2pm. There are probably 1,000 people outside right now.”Footage showed a crush at the Ghana in the Park festival tiktok.com/@plus1tvGhana Party in the Park , also known as ShattaFest UK, is an annual outdoor festival in London which has been running since 2005. The event's website describes it as a “cultural festival celebrating the very best of Ghanaian music, culture, food, fashion and community”.It attracts more than 8,000 people, according to the London Assembly website, making it the largest Ghanaian event outside of Ghana. It was headlined this year by Ghanaian Reggae-Dancehall artist Shatta Wale. In a statement on Saturday night, organisers said: “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. Read More“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.”It added: "We would like to clarify that there were no incidents of stabbing and deaths as being speculated. The safety and wellbeing of our attendees, staff, artists, contractors and partners remains our upmost priority.”The Metropolitan Police 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."A spokesman for Barnet Council said: 'The Ghana Party in the Park event at Copthall Playing Fields has ended early this evening after an overcrowding issue at the entrance saw several people sustain non-life threatening injuries.“The police and council officers are on site, please help us by avoiding the area.”The Metropolitan Police and London Ambulance Service have been contacted for further information.