Halloween Rave Photos: What Really Happened When Police ‘Stormed’ London Party

TO the illegal rave in London’s Museum Street, High Holborn. Reacting to a tip off that 500 people were enjoying themselves in disused building, the riot police arrive.

UPDATE: Illegal Holborn Rave Was A Smokers’ Revolution And Against State Control

The Mail calls them “600 Halloween youths”.

Well, so say the paper of record’s headline. The story one line down tells readers:

A number of officers were injured when bottles were hurled during clashes with a crowd of up to 500 youths at a disused building in central London.

One hundred Halloween youths have vanished! Only to reappear:

Witnesses said outnumbered officer were forced to retreat as more than 600 baying ravers emerged from the building chanting ‘f*** the police’.

You mean the Halloween police who had shut down their fun?

Anyhow, what of the “riot”? Says Sky News:

Seven people were arrested and three people injured – including one police officer – after bricks and bottles were used as missiles.

Bad luck to be hurt. But it’s not a riot. The copper who was injured is ok. And – what’s this – the police behaved sensibly!?

A Met spokesperson said elements of the estimated 500-strong crowd became aggressive after being asked to move on.

He said the decision to allow the rave to continue was part of a “containment strategy”, adding: “Officers at the scene have a watching brief.”

Or as this site says:

Illegal rave in London turns violent as police storm building

Storm?

The Guardian tells us:

Police were first called to the event in a disused building at 11.20pm last night. They said some people became aggressive after being asked to leave the area and commanders then called in dozens of riot squad officers from the Met’s territorial support group (TSG).

A number of buildings and vehicles were damaged during the affray but most of the revellers went back into the eight-storey building where the event was taking place after the clashes.

So. What happened? Were you there..?

UPDATE: Illegal Holborn Rave Was A Smokers’ Revolution And Against State Control