A music festival in Crystal Palace Park was not ended abruptly because of a stabbing, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed. The force said it received zero reports of knife crime at yesterday’s Originals Festival despite rumours swirling on TikTok and X.
Crowds enjoying the line-up of DJs and dance artists at the Crystal Palace Bowl were told to leave soon after the gates should’ve shut for the evening. One video posted online shows festivalgoers standing around in confusion as an announcer shouts: “Due to circumstances beyond our control, it has become necessary to close the event early.
“Please return to your vehicles, or meeting points, and exit the site immediately.” Another clip features an alleged security guard telling revellers it had been shut down because “people breached the entrance” and “at that point it became too dangerous to continue”.
A number of attendees also detailed witnessing a stampede, with large groups knocking over fencing, security guards and a Port-a-loo in a bid to get in the venue. Originals Festival, or parent event South Facing Festival, has so far not offered a rebuttal to these claims, or offered an explanation as to what happened.
Organisers had previously promised the day would be ‘bigger than ever’ following an ‘epic’ rave at the Crystal Palace Bowl last summer. It’s thought over 8,000 tickets were sold, meaning the historic venue was operating at full capacity.
Police were later called to assist at the festival, according to a statement issued by the Metropolitan Police this morning (August 17). Cordons were erected to ‘ensure the safety’ of people leaving the area, but no one was arrested.
Two people were treated for minor injuries by paramedics.
MyLondon has approached Originals Festival and South Facing Festival for comment.
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