Post by Beach Police on Feb 18, 2011 22:10:08 GMT -5
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1358200/Nineteen-arrested-teenagers-knifed-Trafalgar-Square.html
Three teenagers knifed during mass brawl in Trafalgar Square between 'Kosovan' youths
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 3:13 PM on 18th February 2011
Battle of Trafalgar: A youth is arrested after a mass brawl broke out in the square in central London
Three teenagers were stabbed and 19 others arrested after a mass brawl in Trafalgar Square yesterday.
Running battles broke out between rival gangs of youths – believed to be Albanian Kosovans – armed with knives and hockey sticks around Nelson’s Column during the afternoon.
The fighting lasted for around 90 minutes as the rival gangs clashed on Kosovo National Day, which celebrates the country's independence.
Witnesses described how the gangs ran into the square wielding their weapons.
Dozens of police officers struggled to break up the fight, reportedly arresting a 14-year-old boy, and two 16-year-old youths.
A 19-year-old man reportedly had four stab wounds to his head, arms and back, an 18-year-old youth knifed twice in the chest and another 19-year-old had stab wounds to the neck,back and leg.
One insider told the Evening Standard: 'Whenever there are high-profile events such as this these gangs meet to show their muscle, to fight to see who is the most powerful.
'The next day they will boast on Facebook about what they did.'
Witness Didi Mae, a 21-year-old student, told the Standard: 'I was walking through Trafalgar Square and a load of guys came running towards me. It looked like they had taken whatever weapons they could.
'I thought it was a flashmob, because there are a lot of them in central London, but it became apparent that it was not as innocent as it looked. None of them were wearing masks, they all looked young and seemed to be wearing quite a lot of black. It took me a few seconds to realise what was going on.'
Running fights: The youths are believed to have been Kosovan Albanians fighting on the third anniversary of Kosovo's independence
The Metropolitan Police said four of its officers made it to the fight 'extremely quickly'.
A spokesman said: ‘Police are appealing for information over three stabbings following a number of fights in the Trafalgar Square area between 4pm and 5.30pm. Officers were called to the scene at around 4pm to reports of a large fight and a man being stabbed.’
'Paramedics were also called to the scene, where they found a 19-year-old who has suffered multiple stab wounds.
'A short while later an 18-year-old man with multiple stab wounds was also found. Both men were taken to a central London hospital.''
Makeshift weapons: A police officer holds a hockey stick as a youth is arrested
The police spokesman added: ‘Just before 6pm, officers were then alerted about a 19-year-old man attending a central London hospital with stab wounds.’
The first stab victim was last night in a stable condition, while the other two were in serious but stable conditions.
The spokesman said: ‘All the incidents are believed to be linked. Police have arrested 19 men in connection with the incidents.’
He added: ‘Officers from Westminster are investigating and are appealing for witnesses or anyone with any information to contact them.’
The incident is the latest in a series of knife crimes in the capital.
Three teenagers have been stabbed to death in London already this year.
A record number of 29 teenagers were murdered in London in 2008, topping the previous worst toll of 27 in 2007.
However, there was a steep decline to just 15 teenage murders in the capital in 2009.
A total of 19 teenagers were unlawfully killed in London last year.
Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1358200/Nineteen-arrested-teenagers-knifed-Trafalgar-Square.html#ixzz1EKWh6LxH
Three teenagers knifed during mass brawl in Trafalgar Square between 'Kosovan' youths
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 3:13 PM on 18th February 2011
Battle of Trafalgar: A youth is arrested after a mass brawl broke out in the square in central London
Three teenagers were stabbed and 19 others arrested after a mass brawl in Trafalgar Square yesterday.
Running battles broke out between rival gangs of youths – believed to be Albanian Kosovans – armed with knives and hockey sticks around Nelson’s Column during the afternoon.
The fighting lasted for around 90 minutes as the rival gangs clashed on Kosovo National Day, which celebrates the country's independence.
Witnesses described how the gangs ran into the square wielding their weapons.
Dozens of police officers struggled to break up the fight, reportedly arresting a 14-year-old boy, and two 16-year-old youths.
A 19-year-old man reportedly had four stab wounds to his head, arms and back, an 18-year-old youth knifed twice in the chest and another 19-year-old had stab wounds to the neck,back and leg.
One insider told the Evening Standard: 'Whenever there are high-profile events such as this these gangs meet to show their muscle, to fight to see who is the most powerful.
'The next day they will boast on Facebook about what they did.'
Witness Didi Mae, a 21-year-old student, told the Standard: 'I was walking through Trafalgar Square and a load of guys came running towards me. It looked like they had taken whatever weapons they could.
'I thought it was a flashmob, because there are a lot of them in central London, but it became apparent that it was not as innocent as it looked. None of them were wearing masks, they all looked young and seemed to be wearing quite a lot of black. It took me a few seconds to realise what was going on.'
Running fights: The youths are believed to have been Kosovan Albanians fighting on the third anniversary of Kosovo's independence
The Metropolitan Police said four of its officers made it to the fight 'extremely quickly'.
A spokesman said: ‘Police are appealing for information over three stabbings following a number of fights in the Trafalgar Square area between 4pm and 5.30pm. Officers were called to the scene at around 4pm to reports of a large fight and a man being stabbed.’
'Paramedics were also called to the scene, where they found a 19-year-old who has suffered multiple stab wounds.
'A short while later an 18-year-old man with multiple stab wounds was also found. Both men were taken to a central London hospital.''
Makeshift weapons: A police officer holds a hockey stick as a youth is arrested
The police spokesman added: ‘Just before 6pm, officers were then alerted about a 19-year-old man attending a central London hospital with stab wounds.’
The first stab victim was last night in a stable condition, while the other two were in serious but stable conditions.
The spokesman said: ‘All the incidents are believed to be linked. Police have arrested 19 men in connection with the incidents.’
He added: ‘Officers from Westminster are investigating and are appealing for witnesses or anyone with any information to contact them.’
The incident is the latest in a series of knife crimes in the capital.
Three teenagers have been stabbed to death in London already this year.
A record number of 29 teenagers were murdered in London in 2008, topping the previous worst toll of 27 in 2007.
However, there was a steep decline to just 15 teenage murders in the capital in 2009.
A total of 19 teenagers were unlawfully killed in London last year.
Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1358200/Nineteen-arrested-teenagers-knifed-Trafalgar-Square.html#ixzz1EKWh6LxH