O2 Academy Brixton licence suspended following fatal crush

The O2 Academy Brixton’s licence has been suspended until 16 January 2023 after crowds tried to force entry to a gig last week, resulting in a crush that led to the deaths of two people.

Lambeth Council said the venue must close temporarily while investigations are ongoing. A further hearing of the authority’s licensing committee will be held on 16 January 2023 to determine its future.

Police had made the request for the venue to have its licence revoked. Emergency services had been called to the venue at 9.35pm on 15 December following reports that a large number of people were trying to force entry during a sold-out performance by Nigerian afrobeats artist Asake.

Eight people were taken to hospital by ambulance with injuries believed to have been caused by crushing, four of who were reported to be in a critical condition.

Two people – 33-year-old mother-of-two Rebecca Ikumelo and Gaby Hutchinson, 23, who had been working as one of the contracted security providers for the event – died in hospital of their injuries. A woman, aged 21, remains in critical condition.

Within their application for the licence to be revoked police said: “On arrival it was apparent to officers that security staff had completely lost control of the situation with regards to crowd control.

“Crowds had forcibly breached the doors of the venue and were seen in large numbers to be forcing their way into the event. Many people were crushed by the sheer force of the crowd and many were injured, some seriously. Four members of the public were taken to hospital in a critical condition. Two of them have since lost their lives. “

Following the hearing today (Thursday 22 December) Cllr Mahamed Hashi, Lambeth’s cabinet member for safer communities, said: “A tragic incident has happened in our borough and we are dealing with its devastating impact on our communities. Our thoughts are with those who have suffered, especially the families and friends of Rebecca Ikumelo and Gaby Hutchinson, who have tragically lost their lives.

“I wish to thank my colleagues on the sub-committee for their careful and rigorous work in looking at this issue at this first stage of the process. We will now continue with our work to reassure our communities about safety at the venue, get the answers needed about how this happened and support the Met police investigations into these tragic events.”

Prior to the hearing the venue had postponed a show and cancelled its planned New Year’s Eve event.

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