Brixton: Met criticises 'unacceptable' crowds who hurled objects as police helped injured man

4 June 2021, 18:39 | Updated: 4 June 2021, 18:55

Officer criticises "unacceptable" Brixton scenes

By Will Taylor

Scenes of officers being "set upon" in Brixton as they responded to a seriously injured man were "totally unacceptable", the Met has said.

Crowds hurled objects at police after being called to help a man with suspected gunshot and stab wounds late on June 2.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were sent in to the scene in south London with riot gear and the crowd threw items at them.

Detective Superintendent Neerav Patel, of the Met's Central South BCU, told LBC on Friday: "The scenes were totally unacceptable.

"We had officers responding to a male who had been seriously injured and those officers were set upon by the crowds that were present.

"So for me that's totally unacceptable and I know I speak for the community when I say that level of violence and disorder will not be tolerated.

"We have an open investigation to identify those responsible."

A 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in relation to the incident police responded to.

Read more: Brixton: Crowd hurls objects at police at scene of suspected shooting and stabbing

Officers change into protective clothing during the incident.
Officers change into protective clothing during the incident. Picture: PA/Ben Fahey

Officers, including some wielding firearms, were sent to Moorland Road with the air ambulance just after 9.30pm.

The man, in his 20s, who suffered wounds was taken to hospital and his injuries were assessed as not life-threatening but potentially life-changing.

During the response, two officers were assaulted but neither needed treatment.

Speaking about whether the police were braced for more incidents as lockdown eases, Det Supt Patel said: "We as a nation have been through a huge ordeal with the pandemic and I fully accept that people will want to return to the streets and enjoy the freedoms that we've long waited for."

He said warm weather in the summer would bring out more people who will want to gather, which he said was right. Euro 2020 will also see people want to meet up.

But Det Supt Patel added: "We remain committed to making sure they can do that safely, they can do that in line with the coronavirus legislation… but absolutely we remain committed to maintaining safety in public places.

"We welcome people to come back to the streets and enjoy their freedoms but we are also poised and ready to bear down on violence and we maintain our commitment to reducing violent crime."

Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference Cad 7951/02Jun.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Moment Israel blows up the front gate of Iran's notorious Evin prison

Israel blow's gates of Iran's notorious Evin Prison where many political prisoners are held

The DLR could be heading further south east of the Thames - not just the River Lea

Every railway line extension in London: Sadiq Khan's Thamesmead DLR ambition gets to next stage

Iranian protesters chant slogans and one holds a poster with a vampire-like illustration of US President Donald Trump in Revolution Square to protest US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran

LIVE: Trump 'simply raising question' on Iran regime change - as Israeli missiles strike gates of Tehran's Evin Prison

British Airways had stopped some flights to the Middle East over the weekend

UK flights restored to Dubai and Qatar

NATO says alliance's new defence investment plan will be 5% of GDP to ensure security and defence.

NATO to hike defence spending to 5% of GDP in major security push as chief warns Iran on developing nuclear weapon

Former Sky News presenter Dermot Murnaghan has announced his diagnosis with stage four prostate cancer.

Veteran news presenter Dermot Murnaghan diagnosed with ‘advanced’ stage 4 prostate cancer

Dozens of bodies have been recovered from the Balearic Islands, including Majorca, this year.

Holiday horror as five bodies with shackled hands and feet wash up on beach at tourist hotspot

Police speak to a person taking part in a demonstration at Trafalgar Square in London in support of Palestine Action.

Police clash with protesters in support of Palestine Action as government set to proscribe the group

Exclusive
Ellis' killer is still at large one year after his murder.

'So broken and lost' : Mum desperate for answers over son's gun murder as killer remains at large

Ugly scenes break out as Palestine Action protesters and police clash in Trafalgar Square

Palestine Action clashes with police after government 'bans' them under anti-terror laws

Exclusive
Chancellor And Business Secretary Launch The Government's Industrial Strategy

Rachel Reeves hints she could water down non-dom policy and tells LBC 'we'll always look at the evidence'

Demonstrators gesture toward a police line during a protest by Palestine Action group in London, Monday, June 23, 2025.

Met Police ban Palestine Action protests outside Houses of Parliament

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, greets Ambassador of Iran to Russia Kazem Jalali, right, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, center, prior to their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia today.

Putin backs Iran as Kremlin blasts US for 'groundless, unprovoked aggression' against nuclear facilities

Carlos Alcaraz with the Queen's trophy he won after beating Jiri Lehecka on Sunday

When is Wimbledon 2025: Carlos Alcaraz favourite after Queen's victory

The union’s survey of more than 6,000 members across rail, bus, metro, maritime and underground sectors found two-thirds have experienced workplace violence in the past year, and over 85% of them were assaulted multiple times.

Union urges transport bosses to act after two-thirds of workers suffer violence and abuse from passengers

Flying Scotsman will be part of the Greatest Gathering event at its factory in Derby. Up to 30,000 people are expected to attend the event, which runs from August 1-3

Flying Scotsman to appear at world's largest gathering of railway vehicles in the UK