Six people were stabbed in north London after Arsenal’s Premier League title victory parade on Sunday, the Metropolitan Police have confirmed. The stabbings occurred in the evening after most of the crowds had dispersed, with 24 people arrested in connection with various offences.
One man in his 20s was taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition but has since been stabilised. Police said most of the victims did not suffer serious injuries. Two officers were also injured: one sustained a slash wound to the hand, and another was struck on the head by an object thrown from the crowd.
Hundreds of thousands of supporters had lined the streets around the Emirates Stadium to celebrate Arsenal’s first league title in 22 years. More than 500 officers were deployed to police the event. Among the arrests, ten were for assaulting police officers, three for sexual assault, and others for offences including grievous bodily harm, being drunk and disorderly, obstructing police, affray, and breach of a dispersal order.
Three people were arrested on suspicion of drugs offences, including one also arrested for possessing a knife. Four police vans parked in Islington were damaged, with broken lights and dents. The London Fire Brigade rescued about 75 people who became stuck at height after climbing rooftops to watch the parade, and attended a small fire at a hotel believed to have been caused by a flare.
Commander Stuart Bell, who led the Met’s public order operation, said there had been “pockets of antisocial behaviour” and later “gang-related incidents” as the evening progressed. Extra stop-and-search powers were authorised overnight. Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart said officers would continue patrols to provide reassurance and investigate the stabbings.
