Four people have been injured and are in a critical condition after an incident involving crowds outside the O2 Brixton Academy on Thursday night (December, 15)
According to some reports a large number of people without tickets had stormed the venue in an attempt to gain entry to see the award-winning Nigerian Afrobeats singer and songwriter Asake, reports MyLondon. Doors to the venue appear to have been locked, shutting out many valid ticket holders as well as those trying to gain unauthorised entry. It resulted in the show, which had already started, being cancelled.
There remained a heavy police presence at the scene into the early hours of Friday morning. In a tweet posted shortly after 1am, the Metropolitan Police branch based in Lambeth stated: "Emergency services attended the O2 Academy in Brixton following reports that a number of people had been injured after a large crowd attempted to gain entry without tickets.
"Four people are in a critical condition at hospital. Officers will remain in the area to provide reassurance."
The show was cancelled with an announcement made on stage part way through the gig, according to The MIrror, and was met with uproar. Speaking to the fans, organisers said: "The reason we have to stop the show is because they have breached the doors. You've got 3,000 people who have broken the doors outside and because of security the police have asked us to close the show."
As the fans loudly protested, an announcer continued: "This is nothing to do with us. . . this is basically — listen to what I am saying..." Another announcer cut in to add: "Listen, for your own safety, for your own safety, listen please. For your own safety, please, please, please. There are people who've breached the door. They have broken in and security are trying to help with it."
In an attempt to spread some calm, they told those who had purchased tickets for the show that a refund would be available.
Revellers at the venue were said to have been kept outside in freezing temperatures as the trouble unfolded. Video footage of the event posted on social media appeared to show clashes between fans and police, along with a large emergency service presence.
Irate fans took to social media to vent their frustration at the abrupt ending of the concert, with many sharing videos to their platforms. One user on Twitter wrote: "Asake's show got cancelled. Organisers trying to protect ravers or they have no respect for them?"
And another speaking of the goings-on outside added: "So the police have locked off Asake and have left a bunch of people in an alley in the freezing cold."
In response to the accusations, culture writer Jason Okundaye wrote: "Not Asake’s fault at all, seems people who didn’t have tickets turned up with fake tickets or just broke their way in so capacity was reached with thousands of paying ticket holders outside. Grown cheap adults ruining it for everyone."
Another wrote: "Asake has had the worst luck with these UK concerts. I can imagine he’d be reluctant to come back."
The award-winning singer-songwriter had sold out three shows at the O2 Brixton Arena. Thursday night's was the final one. He had performed at the same venue on Sunday and Monday of this week, and had performed in Manchester last Saturday.
Representatives for Asake, the O2 Academy Brixton and the Metropolitan Police have been contacted for further comment.
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