Shocking bodycam footage shows police officers being pelted with bottles at illegal north London rave

Police have released shocking body cam footage of officers being pelted with objects as they attempted to disperse an illegal music event in north London.

The footage shows the officers approaching crowds at the Woodberry Down Estate in Finsbury Park as bottles and other items fly towards them.

The Met Police has also today released images of a number of people suspected of being involved in violence and disorder at the event.

Concerned residents living nearby alerted officers from 11pm on Friday.

A dispersal zone was set up and trained public order officers entered the estate to try to disperse the group.

But the Met said they were met with “hostility and violence” and two officers were injured after items, which also included canisters and a bicycle, were hurled at them.

One was taken to hospital with bruising to his ribs and has since been discharged, and the other suffered a leg injury but was able complete the remainder of his duty.

An 18-year-old was arrested for violent disorder and obstruction while a 19-year-old was also held for obstruction

In a statement, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Lucy D’Orsi said police received “upwards of 30 calls” about the event from residents asking for help.

“These residents were scared to leave their homes and scared about what they would face outside their front doors in the morning,” she said.

“It is always an anxious moment for us as we deploy our officers into such situations but I draw confidence from my knowledge of the outstanding training they receive.”

DAC D’Orsi added she wanted to share the footage in order to give people a glimpse into what officers experience in dealing with these situations.

She said: “I wanted to share with you the footage from a colleague’s body worn camera which shows what they faced upon arrival, and I ask the question ‘could you or would you want to do their job?’”

Unlicensed music events have become a regular issue for police across England ever since lockdown restrictions were eased.

Read more

Officers hurt as objects hurled at police shutting down illegal rave