CARNI CARNAGE
Man stabbed and 400 arrested as Notting Hill Carnival descends into violence with 36 knives seized
A MAN was stabbed on the final day of the Notting Hill Carnival - as police revealed almost 400 people were arrested over the weekend.
Crowds were dispersing and festivities winding down when the victim was attacked and suffered non-life threatening injuries at Ladbroke Grove at 8.10pm on Monday.
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A fight breaks out at Notting Hill Carnival as over 200 arrests were made over the bank holiday weekend
Met Police said last night that over the course of the weekend they made 373 arrests, while 30 officers were injured - both of those figures higher than last year.
Officers were using extra stop-and-search powers and new "knife arches" to crack down on violence and seized 36 blades that may have otherwise gone undetected.
Cops say they arrested 42 people on drugs offences, 20 on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and seven on public order offences.
Two people were detained on suspicion of sexual offences, three for common assault and 12 on suspicion of possessing psychoactive drugs.
Officers in Harrow said they arrested a man wanted on suspicion of GBH against an officer at the carnival in the early hours of this morning following a lengthy pursuit across the borough.
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On Sunday alone they made 133 arrests and recovered 16 knives on so-called peaceful "family day".
British Transport Police said its officers made nine arrests on Sunday.
However, the arrests were a tiny minority compared to the estimated one million revellers who headed to Notting Hill for the annual event over the weekend.
Commander Dave Musker, who was Gold Command for Carnival, said: “On both Saturday and Sunday, I authorised a Section 60 Order across the Carnival area in response to the recent increase in violent crime in the capital.
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"For the first time we also included screening arches at certain locations, to deter those who may have been planning on coming to the event, armed with an offensive weapon.
"We believe they acted as a successful deterrent, as well as detecting a substantial number of offensive weapons.
"I am very pleased with the results of the screening arches and the Section 60 order, 36 offensive weapons were taken off the streets by my officers and 373 arrests were made over the course of the weekend, which we expect could rise.
“Thousands of officers worked over the weekend to keep visitors safe and I am extremely proud of their dedication, professionalism and positivity, especially with the weather conditions on Sunday being particularly challenging.
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"Without their hard-work and commitment, Notting Hill Carnival would not be able to go ahead."
Thousands of revellers were pictured partying hard - and some even spotted twerking on top of bus shelters - on the second and final day of the carnival.
Dancers dressed in dazzling outfits and partygoers in equally colourful costumes descended on the streets of west London.
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Over the weekend the police presence was very visible, with officers wearing high-visibility vests stopping and searching men and women as they walked along the pedestrianised streets.
But the police seemed in good spirits, stopping from time to time to high-five revellers, and acting as guides.
The bank holiday weekend event was policed by the highest number of officers in six years.
Almost 7,000, some from the Metropolitan Police's newly formed Violent Crime Task Force, are policing Monday's event to "combat the threat of violent crime".
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This is up from 6,100 at the less busy family day on Sunday.
Undercover police and officers from firearms and dog units were also in place.
The event was expected to attract more than a million revellers to its floats, food stalls and music over the course of the two days.
After a wave of violent crime in the capital in recent months, Scotland Yard announced knife arches had been placed at "strategic points" along the route to help reassure people about their safety, though officials did not disclose where.
Police hope the "tried and tested" arches will put off those planning to arm themselves with knives and offensive weapons, but not everybody will be expected to pass through them.
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Notting Hill Carnival Gold Commander Dave Musker said: "On Sunday, my officers along with colleagues from the British Transport Police arrested 133 individuals for a range of offences and 20 weapons were seized, including knives.
"I am confident that the Section 60 order imposed yesterday prevented these dangerous items being brought to Carnival, and based on the intelligence at my disposal, I consider it proportionate and necessary to ensure a safe Carnival today."
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The party atmosphere and lively music came to a halt at 3pm as thousands of people paid tribute to Grenfell Tower victims.
Revellers marked 72 seconds of silence in memory of the 72 people who died following the fire in June last year.
The tower block is within half a mile of the parade route.
Not all the revellers seemed to get the message as many continued to party despite the music being turned off, with announcements by DJs barely audible.
The silence was broken at the Rampage sound stage, just off Colville Square, with cheers, whistles and the booming voice of the late Aretha Franklin singing Respect.
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MOST READ IN NEWS
The two-day event will be policed by the highest number of officers in six years, with around 13,000 officers deployed in total - around 450 more than last year.
Undercover police officers as well as officers from the force's firearms and dog unit will be in place amid fears of gang-fuelled acid attacks on revellers.
The event is expected to attract more than one million revellers to its floats, food stalls and music.
Crowds party and dance despite the rain at Notting Hill Carnival 2018
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