Several people were injured and reportedly carried out on stretchers after what witnesses described as a «stampede» at a family-friendly festival in north London, where too many people turned up for the event. The Ghana Party in the Park, held in Barnet, was closed early after organisers said a «major incident» had taken place.
Police were called to the festival as the situation unfolded, and organisers said the event had first been «temporarily paused» before the decision was made to end it for the day. Reports from those at the scene said a number of festivalgoers were treated by emergency workers and carried away on stretchers. The exact number of people injured has not been confirmed, and no further details about the medical response have been released.
The festival had been billed as a family-friendly event, but it came to a sudden halt amid concerns that the number of people attending had become too large for the site to handle safely. According to reports, too many people had turned up, and conditions at the festival became chaotic as crowds continued to build.
Organisers have now confirmed that the closure was a health and safety decision. In a statement, they said: «The decision to close the festival was made solely on the grounds of health and safety.» They gave no further explanation of the specific concerns that led to the decision.
Festival organisers described the episode as a «major incident», underlining the seriousness of what happened. Several people were said to have been injured in the rush, with some needing help to leave the site. It is not yet known whether any of those injured were taken to hospital. The full extent of the injuries was not immediately clear.
Police attended the event, and were called in as the scale of the overcrowding became clear. No details have been provided about how long emergency crews remained at the scene or what treatment was given to those affected.
The Ghana Party in the Park is an outdoor festival held in Barnet, north London. It was promoted as a family day out, and large numbers of visitors were reported to have arrived for the occasion.
Organisers have not commented beyond their statement confirming the closure. No information has been released about the specific sequence of events that led to the major incident or about the condition of those injured. The organisers have yet to say how the event became so crowded, beyond confirming that the closure was necessary on health and safety grounds.
