Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has reacted to the stampede which occurred outside a South London venue where Nigerian Afrobeats singer, Ahmed Ololade, known professionally as Asake, was holding a concert.
Emergency services rushed to the venue following reports of crowd trouble at 9.35 pm, and found “a number of people with injuries believed to have been caused by crushing”.
A total of eight people were taken to hospital from the O2 Academy Brixton by ambulance, the Metropolitan Police said, and two who were less seriously injured were treated at the scene.
As many as 3,000 people, many reportedly without tickets, are said to have “stormed” the venue on Stockwell Road at 9.30 pm
Khan, in a tweet on his verified Twitter page on Friday, December 16, Sympathized with those affected by the stampede.
The Mayor of London said he was heartbroken by the incident, adding that an urgent investigation is underway.
He tweeted: “My thoughts are with all those affected by the awful incident at Brixton Academy. Eight people were taken to hospital, with four in critical condition. An urgent investigation is underway and I remain in close contact with the Met Commissioner since last night.”
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that there was a terrifying crowd crush at Asake’s O2 Academy Brixton gig last night (Thursday, December 15).
The venue was locked off by police after members of a huge crowd outside the venue appeared to try and push and shove their way in
As many as 3,000 people, many reportedly without tickets, are said to have “stormed” the venue on Stockwell Road at 9.30 pm.
Eight people were rushed to the hospital by ambulance, three of whom are in critical condition.
Another person was also fighting for their lives, but their condition has since improved. A number of other people were treated at the scene by paramedics.
The venue was locked off by police after members of a huge crowd outside the venue appeared to try and push and shove their way in.
People trapped in the crowds were pushed to the floor, with some reporting their heads were stepped on in the panic, fans suffering black eyes, with some people fainting.
Windows were left smashed and in the crush outside, a video appears to show a woman being thrown down a small flight of stairs by police, which incensed the tension further.
Asake addressed fans inside the Brixton O2 Academy minutes into the show to announce that it had to be canceled.
Someone working with Asake took the microphone first to explain the situation. He said: “3,000 people have broken the door outside and, because of security, police have asked us to close the show. We apologise to you. This is nothing to do with us. It’s nothing to do with us, OK? Or the promoter. This is basically… listen to what I am saying.”
Asake then took the microphone to appease fans and said: “Hold up people please, hold up for one second for your own safety. For your own safety, listen please yeah, for your safety, please, please, please, yeah, there’s people that have breached the door. They have broken it and security are trying to… please… alright we’ll be back.”
The singer asserted that people can get refunds on tickets. However, a cordon remains in place at the venue this morning (Friday, December 16) as officers continue to work at the scene.