Multiple people were injured at a festival in north London after a "stampede" that saw the event cancelled.
Ghana Party in the Park at Copthall Playing Fields in Barnet on Saturday was forced into an “abrupt closure” after an “overcrowding issue”, police and organisers said.
Several festivalgoers suffered non-life threatening injuries following the “crush” that was sparked by a small fire on the site which required the gates to be closed temporarily.
Police said “a crowd built up and surged when the gates were reopened”.
Disturbing footage shared online from the event showed chaotic scenes with people falling to the ground as a crowd surged.
Screaming can be heard as members of the public and security staff try and help people who are being crushed.
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A total of 23 people needed assistance from emergency services or the event medical team, with nine people assessed by the London Ambulance Service.
Three were taken to hospital where their condition was confirmed as non-life threatening.
Footage from the event showed dozens of emergency vehicles, including air ambulances, present at the scene.
One witness told The Sun they saw at least three injured people being carried away on stretchers as medics attended the scene.
18-year-old Kieran Turnbull said: “We saw this stampede coming through the main entrance.
“At the bit where they do the bag and clothing searches everyone was just pushing through,” he said.
“People were being carried out on stretchers. It became very very chaotic.”
Another told the Daily Mail : “Ghana Party in the Park, aka ShattaFest, has had a stampede, with people seriously injured.
“Two air ambulances (helicopters) have flown in to take some of the injured away.
“People have been unable to get into the event since 2pm. There are probably 1,000 people outside right now.”
Ghana Party in the Park is an annual outdoor festival in London which has been running since 2005.
The event's website describes it as a “cultural festival celebrating the very best of Ghanaian music, culture, food, fashion and community”.
It attracts more than 8,000 people, according to the London Assembly website, making it the largest Ghanaian event outside of Ghana.
It was headlined this year by Ghanaian Reggae-Dancehall artist Shatta Wale, with the festival also being billed as ShattaFest UK.
A Met Police spokesperson said: “Shortly after 18:00hrs on Saturday, 1 August we were alerted to reports of crushing at the entrance to the Ghana Party in the Park event being held at the Copthall Playing Fields in Barnet.
“A small fire on the site, near to the entrance, had required the gates to be closed temporarily. A crowd built up and surged when the gates were reopened.
“Officers responded quickly and working alongside event organisers, they formed a barrier between the surging crowds and people on the floor. Officers gave initial medical care, including CPR, to those who had sustained injuries. They were joined by paramedics and firefighters as part of a coordinated multi-agency response.
“A total of 23 people received some form of assistance either from the emergency services or the event medical team, with nine people assessed by the London Ambulance Service. Three were taken to hospital where their condition was confirmed as non-life threatening.
“The event was ended early and crowds left without further incident.”
In a statement on Saturday night, organisers said: “Following the unfortunate incident at today's event, we wish to provide an update regarding the abrupt closure of Ghana in the Park.
“The decision to close the festival was made solely on the grounds of health and safety.
“Officers from the London Ambulance Service and the London Fire Brigade responded to a major incident on site.
“Following discussions with the emergency services and our health and safety team, it was agreed that closing the festival was the safest option in order to protect all attendees.”
It added: "We would like to clarify that there were no incidents of stabbing and deaths as being speculated. The safety and wellbeing of our attendees, staff, artists, contractors and partners remains our upmost priority.”
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.
— Barnet MPS | North West BCU (@MPSBarnet) August 1, 2026
Speculation about a stabbing is inaccurate. Please help us by avoiding the area.
A London Ambulance Spokesperson said: “We were called at 6.08pm on Saturday 1 August to reports of an incident in Hendon, NW4.
“We sent multiple resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, paramedics in fast-response cars and an advanced paramedic. We also dispatched our Hazardous Area Response Team and London's Air Ambulance.
“Working with the on-site medical provider, we treated multiple patients at the scene before conveying three patients to hospital.”
A spokesman for Barnet Council said on Saturday night: 'The Ghana Party in the Park event at Copthall Playing Fields has ended early this evening after an overcrowding issue at the entrance saw several people sustain non-life threatening injuries.
“The police and council officers are on site, please help us by avoiding the area.”
