Four people are in critical condition after being crushed outside the Brixton O2 Academy in south London on Thursday night.
Police attended the venue after reports that a large number of people were attempting to force entry. The concert was then stopped mid-show after the venue surpassed capacity and people broke the doors outside.
One witness estimated that 1,000 people turned up to the gig without tickets. One of the victims told the BBC: ‘I couldn’t breathe and I completely passed out. I thought I was dead.’
Akin Oluwaleimu, a 53-year-old from Kirby Cross went to the gig with his 14-year-old daughter Elsie, but left swiftly when things turned ‘rowdy’. He told the BBC: ‘We tried to find out what was going on and were told they had just shut the door and they won’t allow people to go in. Some people were saying they were searching people who didn’t want to be searched; other people were saying that people came without their tickets.’
Eight people were taken to hospital by ambulance, four of whom remain in a critical condition. Other less serious injuries were also treated at the scene, police confirmed.
Thursday’s show was the third of three sold-out shows by the singer. Asake had posted on Twitter before the concert asking fans not to attend without tickets.
Asake has responded to the incident via his Instagram page, writing: ‘My heart is with those who were injured last night and caused any form of discomfort. I pray you get well soonest.
‘I am also in the process of reaching out to individuals. I still do not have the full brief from the venue management themselves as to what led to the disruption at the entrance of the Brixton Academy, but we are thankful that all was peaceful at the end.’
The police have not yet made any arrests, but the Metropolitan Police Service has issued an urgent investigation under its specialist crime unit. Met Commander Ade Adelekan said this was an ‘extremely upsetting incident’.
‘A police investigation has been launched, and it will be as thorough and as forensic as necessary to establish exactly what happened last night.
‘The scene will be examined by specialist officers, CCTV will be viewed, every witness that we make contact with will be spoken to and all other lines of enquiry will be followed.’