Man stabbed to death as British festivals erupt in violence and chaos

Chaotic scenes of violence have emerged from a popular British festival on Monday, where a 21-year-old man was stabbed to death, a day after a teenager died from a suspected drug overdose at another UK festival.

Hundreds of thousands of festival-goers attended the two-day Notting Hill Carnival, which returned after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

Despite being an event where people come together in brightly-coloured outfits to celebrate Caribbean culture and heritage, a number of violent incidents occurred and police have now launched a murder investigation.

Officers became aware of the stabbing in Ladbroke Grove, under the Westway flyover, at around 8pm on Monday, according to a statement by Metropolitan Police.

Emergency first aid was provided to the victim by police until the arrival of London Ambulance Service paramedics.

They were able to transport him through the slew of crowds in challenging circumstances to a waiting ambulance, where he was taken to a west London hospital.

Despite the best efforts of medical staff, the man was pronounced dead.

Family of the 21-year-old have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

Commander of Local Policing, Dr Alison Heydari, said "officers from across the Met have been working tirelessly over the past two days to ensure that all those who came to Notting Hill Carnival could enjoy the experience safely."

"The atmosphere over the past two days has been largely positive and good natured as Carnival should be," Dr Heydari said.

"Regrettably, on Monday evening we saw a number of violent incidents and a 21-year-old man has lost his life.

"Our thoughts are with his family as they come to terms with their terrible loss."

Police are asking people to come forward

As homicide detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command continue with the murder investigation, Dr Heydari has urged those with information to get in touch.

"They will pursue every possible line of enquiry to identify those responsible and bring them to justice," she said.

"There were hundreds of people in the immediate vicinity when this incident took place.

"I would urge anyone who saw anything, who has video footage or who has any other information that could assist officers, to come forward."

209 arrests made since the start of Notting Hill Carnival

Once the festival wrapped up on Monday, police revealed the following day a total of 209 arrests were made.

The offences were:

• 36 x possession of drugs

• 5 x criminal damage

• 27 x public order

• 46 x assault

• 8 x sexual assault

• 10 x possession of psychoactive substances

• 33 x possession of an offensive weapon

• 7 x drink/drug driving

• 35 x Other

• 1 x theft

• 1 x Robbery

Reading and Leeds Festival also sees violent behaviour

The fatal stabbing comes just a day after Reading and Leeds Festival in Berkshire was marred by looting, tent-burning and violence, leading police to pull up with guns.

Out-of-control music fans were reported to have ruined the weekend festival experience for others, where there were high-profile acts like Arctic Monkeys, Megan Thee Stallion, Dave and Bring Me The Horizon.

Police confirmed a 16-year-old boy had died following a suspected drug overdose, with officers believing he may have taken an MDMA tablet at the festival, local media reports.

According to The Mirror, at around 4pm on Sunday several areas of the campsite began to get chaotic, with the security presence suggested to be limited.

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Due to the dangerous activity, the British Thames Valley Armed Response Unit arrived, which was recorded and posted on TikTok.

The video footage shows officers wielding assault rifles as they storm the crowds to break up brawls.

A number of videos posted online also showed crowds of young men and smaller numbers of women gathered throwing chairs and other objects into flames that had been lit next to tents.

Worried parents also took to social media to express their horror, with one claiming her daughter was "stabbed with a needle" in the leg as she waited for the toilets at the main stage, according to The Sun.

Many decided to leave the festival early on Sunday, fearing their safety.

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