At the Caribbean Carnival in London, held on August 25-26, eleven people were stabbed and one individual was doused with acid, according to the BBC.
Three of the injured, including a 32-year-old woman who attended the carnival with a small child, are in critical condition.
A total of 330 people were arrested during the festival, primarily for possession of weapons and drugs, assaulting police and emergency workers, fighting, and sexual assault. Additionally, 53 police officers sustained various injuries.
Following the first day of the carnival, the police issued a statement expressing frustration. “We are tired of repeating the same words every year. We are tired of telling families that their loved ones have been seriously injured or worse. We are tired of seeing crime at the carnival.”
The Afro-Caribbean carnival, which aims to promote racial harmony, has been celebrated in London’s Notting Hill since 1966. It is one of the largest street festivals globally, drawing approximately two million visitors annually.
This incident follows recent unrest in Britain, including a knife attack at a children’s dance club on July 29, where three girls were killed and several others were injured. A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the attack. Knife violence has been a concerning trend in the UK, with some incidents linked to radical Islamist terrorism.
