Three in hospital after fire and crush at festival in Barnet

Three in hospital after fire and crush at festival in Barnet

Three individuals were hospitalized following an incident involving a fire and crowd crush at the entrance to a festival. The event, Ghana Party in the Park—also referred to as Shattafest UK—was held at Copthall Playing Fields in Barnet, London, but was brought to an early halt after what organisers described as a “major incident” around 18:00 BST on Saturday.

According to the Metropolitan Police, a fire broke out near the entrance gates, prompting authorities to temporarily close them. This closure led to a crowd gathering outside, and when the gates reopened, a surge occurred. The festival organisers decided to end the event prematurely, citing health and safety concerns. They described the day as “one of the most difficult” in the festival’s history and expressed deep regret over the situation.

Emergency responders, including firefighters, ambulance crews, and an air ambulance, attended the scene. Initially, the festival was paused while safety teams addressed the small fire at the entrance. A spokesperson explained that after the fire was extinguished and the area declared safe, normal activities resumed. However, later in the day, the surge at the entrance led to several injuries among attendees. The organisers confirmed that closing the festival was considered the safest course of action and denied any reports of stabbings or fatalities.

The Metropolitan Police detailed their response, noting that rapid action was taken following reports of a crush near the entrance. Officers worked with event staff to form a barrier separating the pushing crowd from those who had fallen. Emergency personnel provided initial medical treatment, including CPR, to those in need. In total, 23 people received medical assistance either on-site or from emergency services, with nine assessed by the London Ambulance Service. Three patients were transported to hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening. The event was formally ended early, with crowds dispersing without further problems

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