Police urge Notting Hill carnivalgoers to speak up over violence after stabbings

Notting Hill carnivalgoers have been urged to report any violent crime associated with the event after a woman attending with her child was stabbed on Sunday.

The Metropolitan police deputy assistant commissioner Ade Adelekan, who is responsible for policing the carnival, said he was “tired of saying the same words every year”.

He said a fatality was narrowly avoided and the 32-year-old woman was in a critical condition. A 29-year-old man who was also stabbed is in hospital in a non-life-threatening condition, and a second man, aged 24, who was stabbed discharged himself from hospital.

Adelekan said: “Yesterday we saw the first day marred by unacceptable violence. Three people were stabbed and we only very narrowly avoided a fatality.

“This was supposed to be ‘family day’ – a celebration suitable for all ages. We are tired of saying the same words every year. We are tired of telling families that their loved ones are seriously injured, or worse. We are tired of seeing crime scenes at carnival. Carnival is a community event and the vast majority of people come to celebrate, to dance, to enjoy music and have a fantastic experience.

“It is the responsibility of all who value this event, who want to see it as the celebration it should be, to speak out and speak up about the violence that continues to overshadow it. Whether it is information about a previous incident now under investigation, or information about someone coming to carnival today to commit crime, please tell us.”

There were 103 arrests on Sunday and 18 officers were assaulted, Scotland Yard said. The final day of the carnival takes place on Monday, and more than a million people are expected to have attended over the bank holiday weekend.

The annual celebration of Caribbean heritage, arts and culture has been running for more than 50 years.