Three hospitalised and 23 injured after stampede and fire at festival in north London

Ghana Party in the Park in Copthall Playing Fields, Barnet, was shut down on Saturday evening following overcrowding concerns.

A fire near the site's entrance meant the festival gates had to be closed, leading to a crowd building up and then surging when they were reopened.

Police, firefighters, paramedics and London's Air Ambulance were all deployed to the chaotic scene at around 6pm.

Emergency services provided medical care, including CPR, to 23 festivalgoers.

Authorities added that speculation about a stabbing at the event is inaccurate.

Ghana Party in the Park is an annual outdoor festival for the Ghanaian diaspora in London.

Operating since 2005, their website describes it as a “cultural festival celebrating the very best of Ghanaian music, culture, food, fashion and community”.

The event draws more than 8,000 guests, according to the London Assembly.

In a statement on released on Sunday, the festival's organisers said: "Following the unfortunate incident at today's event, we wish to provide an update regarding the abrupt closure of Ghana Party 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.

"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 utmost priority. We thank everyone for their cooperation and understanding during this difficult situation.

"We wish all those who sustained injuries a speedy recovery, and safe journey back home to everyone. Further updates will be shared through our official Ghana Party in the Park channels as more information becomes available.

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.”

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.”