Brixton residents react to shocking night at O2 Academy

By Robert Firth, Local Democracy Reporter

Residents living near the O2 Academy, Brixton are in shock after four people were seriously injured in a suspected crowd crush at a gig for Nigerian afrobeats singer Asake.

Neighbours said they saw a large crowd of people gathering outside the music venue at around 10pm last night, as well as ambulances and police cars.

Residents are used to large groups of people hanging outside the 4,900 capacity venue after concerts several times a week, but said they were shocked that this one turned out to be so different.

Ruth Tovim, 62, who lives in Bellfields Road, a street near the venue, said: “It’s incredibly disturbing that some people were hurt. I just thought it was the normal crowds.

“I thought it was quite noisy but you get crowds at the Brixton Academy every week and there’s always people hanging around. I don’t normally notice unless they’re really noisy like last night.

“What was different was that there were blue lights which you don’t normally get. That was unusual. There was an ambulance and at least two police cars.”

Ms Tovim, who has lived in the area for a year, added: “I went to sleep and I only realised how bad it was this morning when I read the news.

“People who live in this street are so used to the crowds that I don’t think many people were disturbed by the noise.”

Another resident, who lives up the street from the O2 Academy in Stockwell Road, said: “There are often crowds but I noticed it was particularly big last night.

“There were people right up to the bus stop near the Academy. It was really loud, but that’s not that uncommon.”

Other neighbours said they saw blue lights but said it wasn’t unusual to see police cars in the area, which is across the road from Brixton Police Station.

A few half-empty discarded plastic cups of beer and other drinks sat on dustbins and the pavement in streets around the O2 Academy on Friday morning.

A police cordon was in place around the venue. Access to Stockwell Road from Brixton Road was blocked off, with two police officers stationed at the junction.

Police tape also blocked access to the venue from Stockwell Road at the junction with Bellfields Road, near the Blue Star House office block. Nando’s Brixton was behind the area sealed off by police tape.

A police cordon was also in place around the other side of the O2 Academy in Stockwell Park Road, but the road itself remained open. Astoria Walk was sealed off behind police tape.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said his thoughts were with everyone caught up in the incident at the music venue.

He said: “My thoughts are with all those affected by the awful incident in Brixton last night. Eight people were taken to hospital, with four in a critical condition.

“An urgent investigation is already under way. I remain in close contact with the Met ommissioner and emergency services.”

Cllr Claire Holland, leader of Lambeth council, said she was thinking of the people who were injured at the venue yesterday.

In a post on Twitter she said: “My thoughts are with those injured last night at the O2 Academy in Brixton.

“Lambeth council is working closely with the police, who are investigating, and our public protection officers are on the ground to support and reassure residents and businesses.”

Pictured top: Ruth Tovim, who lives in Bellfields Road near the O2 Academy, was among those shocked to here about last night’s chaos and injuries (Picture: Robert Firth)