Several people were injured and the Ghana Party in the Park in north London was abruptly cancelled on Saturday after a small fire sparked an overcrowding incident that developed into what witnesses described as a stampede. The event, held at Copthall Playing Fields in Barnet and also known as ShattaFest UK, drew attendees who filmed chaotic scenes as crowds surged when gates were reopened.
Emergency response and injuries
Metropolitan Police and festival organisers said the site suffered an "overcrowding issue" after stewards temporarily closed gates while attending to a small fire. When the gates were later reopened "a crowd built up and surged", resulting in a crush in which several people sustained injuries.
Three people were taken to hospital; police later confirmed their conditions were non-life threatening. Footage shared online showed people falling as others tried to help the injured and stretcher-bearers moved patients towards waiting ambulances. A large emergency presence included multiple vehicles and at least two air ambulances, according to footage and witness accounts.
Witness accounts and atmosphere
“We saw this stampede coming through the main entrance,” said 18-year-old Kieran Turnbull, describing people being carried out on stretchers as medics attended the scene.
Other witnesses described similar scenes of panic and confusion, with crowds pressing at security search points before the closure. One account provided to national outlets said the crush left people unable to enter the site for hours, with "probably 1,000 people outside" at peak times.
Festival background and implications
Ghana Party in the Park is an annual outdoor cultural festival that, according to the London Assembly, attracts more than 8,000 people. The event showcases Ghanaian music, food and fashion and has been running since 2005. Organisers and police described the closure as "abrupt" and cited safety concerns prompted by the overcrowding and the initial fire.
What we know so far
- Location: Copthall Playing Fields, Barnet (north London)
- Event: Ghana Party in the Park / ShattaFest UK
- Incident: small fire led to temporary gate closure; reopening saw a crowd surge and subsequent crush
- Injuries: several injured, three taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries
- Response: multiple emergency vehicles and air ambulances attended
- Event status: cancelled following the incident
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Venue | Copthall Playing Fields, Barnet |
| Ambulances | Multiple, including air ambulances (as seen in footage) |
| People taken to hospital | Three (non-life threatening injuries) |
Safety, crowd control and lessons for large events
Large outdoor events present complex safety challenges: entry queues, bag searches and security checks can create pinch points if not managed to limit build-up outside gates. At Copthall, witnesses reported sustained pressure at security search areas before the incident. Event organisers, local authorities and emergency services typically review crowd management procedures after such incidents to identify whether entrance staffing, queuing systems or communications to ticket-holders need urgent changes.
For festivalgoers and those planning to attend major gatherings, basic precautions reduce risk: arrive early, follow stewarding instructions, keep to designated entrances and immediately alert staff if you see overcrowding or someone in distress. Where possible, travel plans should allow time for delays; in this case, many people were reported unable to gain access for hours.
What next
Police and organisers have not yet released a full statement detailing the timeline or the precise nature of the small fire that triggered the initial closure. Emergency services routinely conduct investigations after incidents involving crushes to establish sequence, resource deployment and whether breaches of safety regulations occurred.
Local residents and festival regulars in Barnet will be looking for clarity on whether the festival will run at a future date and for assurances that lessons are learned. In the coming days, NEXO RADAR will seek comment from organisers and the Metropolitan Police on safety procedures and any follow-up action.
This incident is a reminder that crowd safety remains a live concern at mass gatherings in the capital. The swift response by medics and emergency crews is understood to have limited the severity of injuries, but questions will remain over how a small fire escalated into a dangerous crush at a long-running cultural event.
