Police hunt 10 ‘most wanted’ ravers who injured officers and dog in Halloween riot

Wanted: Police released images of 10 suspects wanted over the violence
Metropolitan Police
Justin Davenport21 January 2016
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These are the faces of a mob of louts suspected of turning an illegal Halloween rave into a riot, causing injuries to 26 officers and a police dog.

Hundreds of people — some wearing zombie masks — fought running battles with the police, pelting officers with bricks, bottles and petrol bombs at the party venue near Albert Embankment in Lambeth.

Local resident and Panorama reporter John Sweeney, 57, told at the time how it was like watching a “war zone” erupt on his doorstep.

“There were ghouls and zombies throwing bricks,” he said. “Wooden spikes were being thrown like spears at cops in riot gear.”

The trouble erupted when officers moved in to shut down the illegal rave — titled Scumoween: A Nightmare On Scum Street — at a London Fire Brigade workshop in Whitgift Street on October 31.

Police believe that at one point more than 1,000 rioters were fighting them, with some throwing 3ft by 3ft concrete blocks onto cars and others pushing double-glazed windows on top of officers.

Violent clashes: Police spent six hours trying to shut down the rave
PA

Today Scotland Yard issued images of 10 of the most wanted suspects who they hope to question in connection with the disorder. Its officers are trying to trace 49 people in total.

Acting Detective Superintendent Andy Barnes, of the Public Order Investigation Unit, said: “This was really serious violence and we could easily have had someone killed.

“We were very fortunate and lucky.”

One officer was knocked out and most were left with serious bruising and cuts from missiles. A police dog called Maverick was kicked during the disorder. Det Supt Barnes said: “The violent criminal behaviour at this event caused a number of people to be hurt.

“It put the local community, others attending the event and police in danger. This was completely unacceptable and those responsible need to be prosecuted.

“If you can help identify any of these people, please call my team without delay.”

More than 60 people have been arrested so far, the majority of whom have been bailed pending further inquiries. Detectives are also investigating the event’s organisers, who are said to be earning hundreds of thousands of pounds from arranging similar illegal raves around the country.

Some organisers are suspected of deliberately escalating the violence to make it more difficult for police to intervene.

The Halloween event was organised by Scum Tek, a group which states its aim on its Facebook page as “big filthy raves and dissent from the system”.

Anyone with information should call the Public Order Investigation Team on 020 8246 0076 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Officers continue to make enquires to identify a total of 49 people in connection with this incident. Images of all 49 subjects can be found here

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