Police are showered with bottles and chased away by crowds as they try to break up an illegal block party in west London
- Police came under attack while breaking up a block party in White City
- A group of youths pelted officers with bottles, stones and other objects
- Up to 200 officers equipped with riot gear were deployed to the estate
- Two helicopters circled the area while officers tried to restore order
Police came under attack with bottles after they tried to clear a ‘block party’ in west London.
Officers were forced to retreat after they were showered with glass as they tried to break up ‘an unlicensed music event’ in Havelock Close, White City.
Video showed the police retreating while a group of young men pelted them with a variety of objects.
Police officers were forced to call in back up after they were pelted with bottles while trying to break up an illegal block party in White City, west London
Scotland Yard said they were ‘engaging with those present and encouraging them to leave’.
At one stage almost 200 riot police and two helicopters were at the scene.
The block party took place just hours after Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged people to be sensible ahead of the reopening of bars at 6am.
According to Scotland Yard: ‘Officers attempted to engage the crowd in order to get them to leave the location but the group became hostile. A number of items were thrown at police, who retreated in order to regroup.
‘Shortly after, specially trained public order officers entered the estate to disperse the group. They were met with further hostility and violence.’
Seven officers were injured during the incident.
A Dispersal Zone has been authorised and a section 60 order has been put in place.
DAC Laurence Taylor said: ‘Officers have responded to residents complaining about a large gathering, noise, anti-social behaviour and violence.
‘These gatherings are illegal and also pose a risk to public health.
‘The violence shown towards officers this evening was totally unacceptable and we will not tolerate it in any form. Officers encountered bricks and other missiles being thrown at them. Our robust police response demonstrated that we will police incidents like these firmly and stop those intent on causing harm or disruption to our communities.’
Police equipped with riot gear were deployed after bottles were thrown by revellers at the event in White City, west London
Several police vans carrying back up were sent to the scene in White City, west London