Five teenage girls were injured during a free gig featuring 'X Factor' hopefuls JLS at Fairfield Halls in Croydon yesterday.
2000 people reportedly amassed at the 1500 capacity venue to catch a glimpse of the talent show boyband. As the crowd grew people started to push, resulting in the injuries. Five fans were taken from the crowd because of their injuries, with four being taken to a local hospital. All the injuries were described as "minor".
An ambulance man called to the event told reporters: "We treated five patients. They were all teenage girls. Four of them were taken to Mayday Hospital in south London. There was one with a hand injury, one with difficulty in breathing and two who were also just taken unwell. The fifth was treated at the scene".
Police confirmed they were called to the venue at 4pm following "reports of crushing at a free music event". It's not clear if the incidents of pushing and crushing were isolated, or whether they occurred across the venue. It's also not clear how over capacity the venue was and, if it was, why that was allowed to happen. Venue management are yet to comment.
JLS will compete with Eoghan Quigg and Alexandra Burke in the overall 'X Factor' final this weekend.