Three people have been left hospitalised as London saw its first two stabbings of 2021 in a night of carnage which also saw officers break up an anti-lockdown protest in the capital and revellers attend an illegal rave at a pub in Essex.
Two people were taken to hospital with stab wounds after an alleged gang battle broke out in central London just after midnight on New year’s Day.
London Fire Brigade called the Metropolitan Police to Edgware Road at 00.32am this morning after reports of a stabbing.
Police officers and teams from the London Ambulance Service arrived at the scene and identified two males with stab injuries.
Both men were taken to hospital to be treated for their injuries.
Two people were taken to hospital with stab wounds after two gangs allegedly clashed on Edgware Road, central London, just after midnight on New Year’s Day
Police said they were called to the scene by the London Fire Service after reports of a stabbing
It is alleged that an illegal rave was taking place in a building on Edgware Road and that as many as 60 or 70 alleged gang members had spilled out onto the street
Additionally a woman was found by officers at the scene suffering with a head injury and has also been taken to hospital.
The condition of all three people is as yet unknown.
The Met confirmed that one woman has been arrested for GBH and was taken to a police station by officers.
A spokesperson for the Met said: ‘Police were contacted by London Fire Brigade at 00.32 on Friday, 1 January to reports of a stabbing on Edgware Road.
‘Officers attended the scene, with the London Ambulance Service and HEMs.
Two men were taken to hospital by emergency services to be treated for their stab wounds
A woman was also found at the scene by emergency services suffering from a head injury
‘Two males were identified with stab injuries.
‘Both men were taken to hospital.
‘A woman was also located at the scene suffering with a head injury, she has been taken to hospital.
‘An update on all three conditions await.
‘One woman has been arrested for GBH and taken to a police station.
A police spokesperson confirmed that one woman had been arrested by officers for Grievous Bodily Harm
Police were called out to Edgware Road around 00.32am this morning after reports of a stabbing
‘A crime scene is still in place.’
An illegal rave was allegedly being held on Edgware Road during the night, with people, including alleged members of two rival gangs spilling out into the street.
A photographer, working for MailOnline, was knocked out while standing near a group of police officers.
The photographer said that an alleged illegal party had spilled out onto Edgware Road, near Marble Arch.
The photographer claims that the two gangs clashed in the street, which allegedly resulted in at least one of the stabbings.
A photographer working for MailOnline, who was knocked out by a man while taking pictures of the incident, claims that hundreds of officers were dealing with the incident, ‘a lot of them heavily armed’
‘We got there and there were lots of armed police. Big armed police cars were zooming past us – we counted 11,’ the photographer said.
They continued: ‘There must be 100 something police there at least, a lot of them heavily armed.’
The photographer also claims that as many as 60 to 70 alleged gang members were present on the street.
They also mentioned that one of the stabbings took place only 150 yards from the homes of former Prime Minister Tony Blair and TV presenter Claudia Winkleman.
While attempting to take photographs of the alleged gang clash, the photographer was approached by a man and knocked out.
Police also had their hands full overnight with another incident in the capital after hundreds defied Government advice to stay home on New Year’s Eve and attended an anti-lockdown protest
Police officers detain a man at the anti-lockdown protest on the South Bank, London, during the night
‘As I hit the floor, 6 or 7 officers rushed to me an then apparently 6 or 7 more caught the guy who did it,’ the photographer said. ‘He was arrested on the scene.’
The photographer also claims that police have made multiple arrests, but this has not been confirmed by police.
It comes as a handful of rule-breakers defied instructions to stay home on New Year’s Eve and headed out on to the streets.
Piers Corbyn, the anti-lockdown activist brother of former Labour leader Jeremy, railed against the restrictions on a march along London’s south bank.
Pictures show the 73-year-old being held back by supporters as he faces down officers during the protest.
Piers Corbyn (pictured middle), the anti-lockdown activist brother of former Labour leader Jeremy, railed against the restrictions on a march along London’s south bank
Pictures show the 73-year-old being held back by supporters as he faces down officers during the protest
Dozens of people congregated outside County Hall, where Mr Corbyn addressed the demonstration through a megaphone
Dozens of people congregated outside County Hall, where Mr Corbyn addressed the demonstration through a megaphone.
Meanwhile others pressed ahead with party plans and flouted rules by toasting in 2021 with a large group of friends.
Social media footage purportedly from Chingford, east London, shows at least 30 revelers packed into a venue decorated with balloons and blaring loud music.
The booze-fuelled event saw guests cram together on a dance floor with Champagne flutes.
People scolded the alleged flouting. ‘Shameful,’ said one. ‘Prime example of how to spread Covid,’ said another.
Piers Corbyn, brother of former Labour leader Jeremy, speaks to a crowd at an anti-lockdown protest in the capital overnight
Police on horses were seen patrolling the streets of London during the night to ensure people followed Tier 4 rules
Most public places typically brimming with crowds lay eerily deserted – and usual hotspots such as Trafalgar Square were even boarded up to prevent people congregating.
But in Leeds, some braved the cold weather and were pictured on the streets clutching bottles of wine and crates of beer.
Ahead of last night, police chiefs warned they would be prepared to take action against rule-breakers.
Scotland Yard tweeted: ‘We are at a critical point in this pandemic. We would urge everyone to celebrate the New Year in the comfort of their own homes. If people insist on gathering and breaching regulations, then officers will shut them down and enforcement action will be taken.’
The maximum fine for breaking coronavirus restrictions is £10,000 for the most egregious breaches.