At least four people have been hospitalized after hundreds of people forced their way into the O2 Brixton Academy for Asake’s inconclusive O2 Academy show in the United Kingdom on Thursday evening.
According to Sky News reports, things went astray after some agitated fans locked out of the venue in freezing temperatures broke their way through security operatives and forced their way into the facility. Video footage shot by some attendees shows a massive crowd of hundreds outside the concert hall, and many pushing through doors to break in.
The incident consequently led to the immediate cancellation of the concert midway after thousands of fans had breached security protocols, following directives from the Metropolitan Police announcing on stage that the show would be stopped.
“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. This has nothing to do with… there are people who’ve breached the door. They have broken in and security is trying to help with it,’’ the security announced.
The Metropolitan Police said that the London Ambulance Service, London Fire Brigade, and cops had received a distress call to the scene of the concert in South London around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Four of the eight patients who were rushed to the hospital were in severe condition as a result of apparent crushing injuries, while the other four received on-site care.
Ade Adelekan, the Met Police’s gold commander, referred to the occurrence as “extremely distressing” and said that the department had launched an investigation into the matter.
