Multiple people sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were carried from the scene on stretchers following a stampede at the Ghana Party in the Park festival in north London on Saturday. The event, held at Copthall Playing Fields in Barnet, was abruptly ended by organizers due to overcrowding.
Footage from the festival showed a significant presence of emergency vehicles, including air ambulances. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic and poorly organized, with some reporting that attendees had been unable to enter the event for hours. Reports also emerged of several fans passing out due to the density of the crowd.
Organizers released a statement confirming the closure was a health and safety decision made in consultation with emergency services. They explicitly clarified that earlier speculations of stabbings and deaths were inaccurate. The Metropolitan Police corroborated that the festival's cancellation was due to an overcrowding issue at the entrance, not a stabbing incident. Barnet Council also confirmed that overcrowding at the entrance led to the early closure and urged the public to avoid the area.
Ghana Party in the Park is an annual festival celebrating Ghanaian music, culture, food, fashion, and community, attracting over 8,000 attendees. It has been held in London since 2005 and is billed as the largest Ghanaian event outside of Ghana.