Chaos erupted at the Brixton O2 Academy on December 15 during a Nigerian Afrobeats concert by Asake when ticketless fans attempted to storm the venue. The desperate attempt to gain entry led to a tragic outcome, with two people losing their lives and several others injured.
The victims, security guard Gaby Hutchinson, 23, and Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, died amid the chaos. New allegations have surfaced claiming that some security personnel accepted bribes to permit ticketless fans inside the venue. An insider speaking to BBC’s File On 4 revealed that guards received “a couple of hundred” pounds each for allowing crowds access.
“People were taking money… Some employees made £1,000 cash. Our company knew what was going on and knew who was doing it, and they did nothing about it,” the security guard stated.
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has responded by launching an official investigation into the corruption allegations, collaborating with the Metropolitan Police. SIA director Paul Fullwood commented, “We take allegations of corruption by security operatives extremely seriously. We are reviewing licensing arrangements and will take action against any individuals or companies involved.” Meanwhile, Lambeth Council’s licensing sub-committee has suspended the venue’s licence for three months.
Academy Music Group (AMG), the owner of the Brixton O2 Academy, supports the licence suspension and has expressed condolences to the families affected by the tragedy.
Gerald Gouriet KC, representing the Metropolitan Police, provided a detailed account of the incident: By 9pm, approximately 1,000 people had gathered outside the venue. Venue staff closed the doors and called police at 9:04pm, with officers arriving at 9:16pm. Despite efforts, the crowd forced the doors open, flooding the lobby and auditorium. Several people fell and were trampled in the crush, with the full extent of injuries still being assessed.
In addition to the two fatalities, a third individual remains in critical condition in hospital following the incident.
Originally published by UKNIP.
