Met Police in Barnet halted the Ghana Party in the Park crush on August 1 after an overcrowding issue at the entrance left several people injured at Copthall Playing Fields. Police attended the festival in London on Saturday evening and asked the public to avoid the area.
Officers said none of the injuries were life-threatening. Organisers later said the event had been temporarily paused because of a major incident at the festival site and told people not to travel there until further notice.
Met Police in Barnet
Police were called to deal with the entrance crowding as the Ghana Party in the Park was taking place in Barnet. In their statement, Met Police in Barnet said: "Officers are at Copthall Playing Fields where Ghana Party in the Park has been cancelled after an overcrowding issue at the entrance saw several people sustain non-life threatening injuries. Speculation about a stabbing is inaccurate. Please help us by avoiding the area."
The force also asked the public not to speculate about the incident. That left the immediate response focused on keeping the entrance clear while officers stayed at the site with the emergency services and relevant authorities.
Copthall Playing Fields
Organisers posted that the event had been temporarily paused late on August 1. They said: "Due to a major incident at the festival site, the event has been temporarily paused. Please do not travel to or come to the festival site until further notice."
They added: "The emergency services and relevant authorities are currently managing the situation. We kindly ask everyone to stay away from the area to allow them to carry out their work safely."
Ghana Party in the Park
For people already heading to Ghana Party in the Park, the practical instruction was simple: do not go to Copthall Playing Fields until organisers issue another update. The only detail they said would follow was timing on more information, with organisers adding: "We will provide further updates as soon as more information becomes available. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and cooperation."
The unanswered point is how many people were injured at the entrance. What is clear is that the incident was serious enough to bring in police, pause the festival and stop new arrivals from traveling to the site.
