Riot police descended on Woodberry Down estate in London on Friday night to break up an illegal rave, sparking violent chaos as angry revellers threw bricks and bottles at the officers.
What is going outside Manor House?! #manorhouse#hackneypic.twitter.com/4amMJIQ7o4
Footage from the North London neighborhood shows anarchy as police in riot gear attempt to control a crowd of irate young people who are seen throwing glass bottles and other items at the officers, and turning over large concrete road blocks. The sound of glass smashing, people screaming and police dogs barking fills the streets.
About 100 riot police on the move pic.twitter.com/lBMqcBXEMo
Hundreds are said to have attended the illegal rave. Scores of officers walked in a line to disperse the crowds and closed off the Seven Sisters Road as a police helicopter flew overhead.
@PFEW_Chair@metpoliceuk under attack Officer attacked with Kerb stones Bricks and bottles on Woodberry Down Estate #Hackney I am sure they didn’t come to work for this:https://t.co/vDWSBCLZNVpic.twitter.com/WXbaS5ervk
The Met Police tweeted that they were responding to an illegal music event in Woodberry Down Estate in the early hours of Saturday. “We stated earlier that any such illegal event would be closed down by police to protect the public and prevent crime,” it said.
Police are in attendance on the Woodberry Down Estate #Hackney re: an illegal unlicensed music event. We stated earlier that any such illegal event would be closed down by police to protect the public and prevent crime.
In a statement released earlier on Friday, Deputy assistant commissioner Lucy D’Orsi said there would be an increased police presence over the weekend. She said that unlicensed music events are “very disruptive to communities and [pose] an increased risk of risk of Covid-19 transmission,” and that they can lead to “violent incidents affecting both those attending and the officers who have to shut them down.”
Illegal raves have become a problem during the coronavirus lockdown. More than 20 officers were injured when they broke up an illegal street party in Brixton in June. A number of illegal parties took place on July 4, the day the pubs reopened in the UK, sparking violence as police arrived to disperse the crowds, and seven officers were injured.
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