Shocking moment thugs spotted brawling with machetes at Notting Hill Carnival

Photos show the shocking moment people at Notting Hill Carnival were armed with machetes in broad daylight.

A photo shows a man approach a group of men while waving a large weapon in the air, as many stand back and watch. 

The photographer said he found himself ‘in the wrong place at the wrong time’ and claimed the ‘joyful atmosphere turned unexpectedly as an altercation broke out nearby, between two gangs with knives and a machete’. 

Other video footage showed a gang of youths, one holding a suspected machete, running down a street dressed in black and wearing balaclavas.

The news comes after the Met Police made 308 arrests across Sunday and Monday, as eight people were stabbed on Monday in just a matter of hours, including a 29-year-old man who was taken to hospital in a ‘critical’ condition.

A 19-year-old man is in a serious but stable condition from a separate incident in Ladbroke Grove before 8pm on Monday.

Police said six other men, aged 18, 19, 20, 25, 28 and 40, sustained non-life threatening injuries in separate stabbing incidents throughout Monday evening.

There were 275 arrests across the two days of the carnival, with 165 arrests on Monday for a range of offences.

These included possession of offensive weapons, assaults on police officers, possession of drugs and sexual offences.

But throughout the rest of the weekend, a party atmosphere was felt across west London as carnival returned.

What was started 55 years ago by Caribbean immigrants celebrating their roots is now the largest carnival of its type in Europe and the second in the world.

Attendees also paid tribute to the 72 people who were killed in the Grenfell Tower fire with a 72-second silence which began at 3pm.

Notting Hill Carnival Ltd distanced itself from Monday’s violent scenes, saying those responsible ‘have nothing to do with Notting Hill Carnival or its values’.

It said in a statement: ‘Notting Hill Carnival has once again been a spectacular weekend of colour and sound, the culmination of a year’s long work, that results in this hugely important and unique cultural event.

‘Carnival is about these communities and people, who dedicate so much time, love, incredible creativity and effort to the parade, sound systems, music, food, costumes and much more that makes up the event.

‘We deplore all acts of violence, these people have nothing to do with Notting Hill Carnival and its values.

‘Tragically, these incidents are all too common in our society. Last year the Office for National Statistics shows that 12,786 knife offences were carried out in the capital over the 12 months to the end of March, this sadly affects us as much as any community.

‘We will continue to work hard with our partners to protect Notting Hill Carnival and the people who make it so special.’

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