Ten arrests were made after hundreds of teenagers crashed a 16th birthday party on Old Kent Road, leading to chaotic scenes and a police dispersal order. The Metropolitan Police responded to reports of a large gathering on Avondale Square around 6pm on Monday, June 22. Witnesses reported as many as 400 uninvited youths attending the party, with some allegedly carrying knives that were hidden or discarded when police arrived.
Witnesses Describe 'War Zone' Atmosphere
Local residents described the scene as “pandemonium” and “like a war zone.” A mother-of-two told Metro that a teenager threw a knife into her back garden as police arrived. “It was terrifying. A knife was lobbed over my wall – what if it had hit one of my kids?” she said. “Loads of them had blades which they were hiding in bushes or throwing away when the police arrived.” She added that the youths had come to the party after seeing a “link up” message online with details of the event. “There must have been 500 all together. A lot of them came on buses and were drinking Buzz Ball cocktails. When they arrived they were everywhere doing nitrous oxide with balloons. It was out of control, like a war zone.”
Police Response and Arrests
A Met police spokesperson said: “We are aware of the impact that incidents like this can have on the local community. Officers have remained in the area today to offer reassurance to local residents and deter further offending. On Monday, 22 June at around 18:00hrs police were called to reports of a large gathering on Avondale Square. Officers attended the scene and a dispersal order was promptly put in place. Ten arrests were made. A 16-year-old boy was assaulted and, after being arrested, was taken to hospital from custody for treatment to a head injury. His injuries have since been confirmed as neither life-threatening nor life-changing.”
Social Media Footage and Community Impact
Video circulating on social media showed a line of police surrounding a large crowd of youths during the confrontation, which locals said went on for hours. One person wrote on X: “It's pandemonium on the Old Kent Road,” along with a video showing the situation unfolding. The venue in the Avondale Square area had reportedly been booked for a girl's 16th birthday party before it was crashed by hundreds of uninvited children. Police have maintained a presence in the area to reassure residents and prevent further incidents.
