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Four people in critical condition following crush at Asake’s latest Brixton Academy show
By Chris Cooke | Published on Friday 16 December 2022
Eight people were hospitalised – with four in a critical condition – after crowd control issues occurred during a show by Asake at the Brixton Academy in London last night.
According to reports, a large number of people turned up at the London venue without tickets for last night’s show, the final of three sell out performances by the afrobeats artist at the Academy. Ahead of the first of those shows on Sunday, a post on Asake’s Twitter profile urged fans without tickets to stay away, confirming that no additional tickets would be on sale on the night.
As a large crowd started to build up outside the venue yesterday evening – and with the particularly cold weather in London at the moment – some of those without tickets allegedly tried to force their way into the Academy building, which is thought to have resulted in a crowd crush, in turn resulting in multiple injuries. Eight people in total were hospitalised, four with serious injuries.
Police were quickly on the scene, Brixton Police Station being just across the road from the Academy. As officers and venue staff sought to deal with the crowd issues the show itself was abandoned and gig goers were asked to leave the building.
A statement issued by police this morning confirmed that “detectives are investigating the circumstances which led to four people sustaining critical injuries in Brixton”, adding that they were called to the Academy at 9.30pm last night “following reports that a large number of people were attempting to force entry to the venue”.
“Officers, London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade attended and found a number of people with injuries believed to have been caused by crushing”, the statement then confirmed. “Eight people were taken by ambulance to hospital, four of whom remain in a critical condition. LAS treated two other less seriously injured people at the scene”.
“An urgent investigation is under way led by detectives from Specialist Crime”, the statement concluded. “Cordons remain in place at the location as officers continue work at the scene. Nobody has been arrested”.
In a post on Instagram this morning, Asake himself said: “My heart is with those who were injured last night and caused any form of discomfort. I pray you get well soonest. I am also in the process of reaching out to individuals”.
“I still do not have the full brief from the venue management themselves as to what led to the disruption at the entrance of the Brixton Academy”, he went on, “but we are thankful that all was peaceful at the end. For my people who enjoyed the beginning of my performance, I am sorry that it was cut short. Thank you for your unbelievable love London. I love you too much!”
