3 stabbed, 18 police officers assaulted and 103 arrested

The crowded Notting Hill Carnival has put an end to the surveillance of thousands of agents of the Metropolitan Police (Met) in London, which this year has recorded incidents of “unacceptable violence” due to stabbing of three people.

The popular event, attended by hundreds of thousands of people every year, sold out on its opening day on Sunday, dedicated to children, with three stabbingsamong them that of a 32 year old woman who had come with her young son and is in “critical situation”.

The other two people injured by stabbing are two men, aged 29 and 24, the Met confirmed, with officers having arrested 103 people so far this year for offences including assaulting emergency workers, assault, possession (of drugs) with intent to supply, sexual offences and robbery. The Met also reported that 18 of its agents have been attacked to date.

“Hundreds of thousands of people have flocked to Notting Hill Carnival to enjoy a fantastic celebration and our officers are on duty, working to keep them safe as part of a carefully planned policing operation,” the force said in a statement.

Police added that “unfortunately, a minority has come to commit crimes and engage in violent acts.”

Police Deputy Commissioner Ade Adelekan, who is in charge of policing operations, today lamented the “unacceptable violence that marred the first day” and said that officers “narrowly avoided a fatality” in reference to the three stabbings.

“Yesterday was supposed to be a day for families, a celebration for all ages. We are tired of saying the same words every year. We are tired of telling families that their wounded loved ones have been seriously injured or worse. We are tired of seeing crime scenes at the carnival”said.

This year, the Met has opened a thread on its X account where it provides information and instructions on how to act in the event of incidents.

Among its messages, the police urge carnival-goers to “contact the police or Crimestoppers anonymously if they have information that could help prevent incidents before they happen.”

Celebrating Caribbean culture

Aside from these violent episodes, among some of the participants in the celebrations, Scottish Jo stressed in statements to EFE the importance of “celebrating culture and diversity, and where you come from”, while another of the citizens who came to Notting Hill today, Christopher, said that he has been coming for three decades and has no intention of stopping.

“I come to have a good time. I like the different nationalities, that everyone is together… I have a great time. I’ve probably been coming here for about 30 years and I’m not going to stop. I like the different kind of music, the different people,” he said.

Sabrina (another visitor) also told EFE about the generally good atmosphere: “I find it amazing, the vibration, the energy, the love” and added that although “there are people who don’t want to be part of the fun (referring to the violent incidents), the majority are loving it.”

Since 1996, and with the exception of the pandemic break from 2019 to 2021, The event celebrates Caribbean culture, 76 years after the first immigrants from the Caribbean began to arrive in this country in the post-war period.

That call “Windrush generation” left a strong mark on the United Kingdom when, at the end of World War II, the country asked its colonies for help in rebuilding from the damage caused by Nazi bombing, in exchange for work and a new life.