Pic:Frightened witnesses saw armed police outside McDonald's on Ealing Broadway
Crime reporter(wp/es):
Six men have been arrested after a riot broke out in west London after police shut down a Somali music event.
Gangs of youths wreaked havoc as police officers were allegedly targeted with missiles while trying to disperse the crowd in Ealingon Thursday night.
Two police dogs were also injured in the melee after the £15 Somali “Wild n out” music show at Ealing Town Hall was shut down shortly after 11pm over fears of overcrowding.
A Metrolpolitan Police spokesman confirmed six men - aged between 19 and 23 – has been arrested on suspicion of public order offences. They are being held at west London police stations.
Deputy Borough Commander of Ealing, Detective Superintendent Robert Mahoney, said: "A large number of people tried to gain entry to a pre-planned event being held at Ealing Town Hall last night.
"They were stopped from entering because of safety concerns. This resulted in some of the group engaging in disorder.
"A swift and proportionate police response soon brought the situation under control and six men are currently in custody. I want to reassure the residents of Ealing that this was an isolated incident which has been effectively dealt with."
One organiser suggested some 2,000 people had turned up to the venue which can only hold 600.
After organisers decided to close the event to ensure safety, a mob of youths is said to have descended on nearby Longfield Avenue where rioting broke out.
Frightened witnesses reported seeing scores of armed police patrolling outside McDonald’s at the junction with Spring Bridge Road.
One of the event’s promoters told the Standard: “The reason it got closed was because too many people attended the event which was only promoted for a week.”
A man was found suffering from injuries in nearby Mattock Lane and rushed to hospital by ambulance.
He remains in a west London hospital in a stable condition and enquiries are underway to establish how he sustained his injuries.
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