Several people were injured after a crowd crush at the entrance to a Ghanaian cultural festival in north London forced organizers to cancel the event, police and organizers said.
The incident occurred on Saturday at Ghana Party in the Park, an annual festival celebrating Ghanaian culture, after overcrowding developed at the entrance to the venue in the London Borough of Barnet.
London’s Metropolitan Police said officers responded to reports of overcrowding and confirmed that several people sustained injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.
Police also dismissed reports circulating on social media of a stabbing, saying no such incident had occurred.
Festival organizers said the event was called off following consultations with emergency services and health and safety officials.
“Following discussions with the emergency services and our health and safety team, it was agreed that closing the festival was the safest option in order to protect all attendees,” the organizers said in a statement.
They also rejected online reports claiming there had been fatalities, saying the decision to cancel the event was taken solely to ensure public safety.
The London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade responded to the scene, while footage shared on social media showed large crowds gathered near the entrance as emergency crews assisted those who were injured.
Authorities have not said what caused the overcrowding, and no arrests were immediately reported.
Founded in 2005, Ghana Party in the Park is one of the largest annual celebrations of Ghanaian culture in the United Kingdom, attracting thousands of people each year for music, food, business and cultural events.
