Six people were stabbed after Arsenal's Premier League victory parade in north London on Sunday, police have said. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the stabbings occurred in the evening after most of the crowds had dispersed. Twenty-four people were arrested in connection with the incidents.
Victims and Arrests
One man in his 20s was taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition but has since been stabilised. The force stated that most of the victims did not suffer serious injuries. Among the arrests, ten were on suspicion of assaulting police officers. Three people were arrested on suspicion of sexual assault, with other offences including grievous bodily harm, being drunk and disorderly, obstructing police, affray, and breach of a dispersal order. Police also arrested three individuals in relation to alleged drugs offences, including one person who was also arrested on suspicion of possessing a knife.
Police Injuries and Damage
The Met reported that one officer suffered a slash wound to the hand, and another was struck on the head by an object thrown from the crowd. Four police vans parked on Theberton Street in Islington were damaged, with broken lights and dents reported. Commander Stuart Bell, who led the Met's public order operation for the parade, said there had been "pockets of antisocial behaviour" during the event.
Celebration and Incidents
Hundreds of thousands of supporters lined streets around the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal celebrated winning the league title for the first time in 22 years. More than 500 officers were deployed to police the event. The London Fire Brigade rescued about 75 people who became stuck at height after climbing onto rooftops and other structures to watch the parade. The brigade also attended a small fire at a hotel believed to have been caused by a flare.
Ongoing Investigations
Police said extra stop-and-search powers were authorised overnight after patterns of violence in north London. Commander Bell added: "As the evening progressed and the majority of the crowds made their way home, there was sadly further violence, including gang-related incidents. Officers were swiftly on scene to each stabbing and investigations are ongoing." Ch Supt Jason Stewart, who leads policing in Islington, said officers would continue patrols while investigations continued. The Met confirmed inquiries into all six stabbings are continuing.
