٠٠:٠٣:٤١London's 2024 Notting Hill Carnival saw increased police presence on Sunday as law enforcement heightened security following a series of anti-immigration riots in the UK.
Footage shows hundreds of participants gathering for the carnival, dancing and watching performances. Meanwhile, dozens of police officers can be seen monitoring the crowd and patrolling the area while carrying backpacks.
Around 7,000 police officers were reportedly on duty. Some carnival-goers welcomed the increased security, with one noting police presence was 'heavy but friendly'.
"It’s pretty chill so far, everything seems quite well policed and there doesn't seem to be trouble and it's quite a reassuring amount of police," another agreed.
However, some attendants accused law enforcement of was using the recent riots as a 'pretext' to over-police London's Black community and called these measures 'a premeditated plan' to 'takeover carnival'.
"They've been wanting to over-police carnival for a long time, but there's always been resistance and push back against it. So, this time they are using it. The pretext is they're protecting us. But actually, there is a history in London, in the UK of over-policing of black events, of black people," said Ahmed Kaballo, one of the carnival-goers.
Another, Rashida, echoed this sentiment, stating: "I always feel the police presence at carnival but I have felt it a little more heavily today and they've got backpacks and things it sees. But, absolutely, the police do not make me feel more safe at all, ever."
The heightened security at Notting Hill Carnival comes after widespread unrest in the UK following the stabbing of three young girls aged between six and nine during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the town of Southport on July 29. Eight other children were hurt - five critically - along with two adults.
Initially, various reports circulated online on social media alleging that the Southport stabbing attack had an Islamist link and that the perpetrator was a recently-arrived migrant, which led to an attack on a Southport mosque.
Meanwhile, the police have identified the 17-year-old suspect as Axel Rudakubana, who was born in Wales to Rwandan parents. Rudakubana was charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder according to media reports. He will face a pre-trial hearing on 25 October.
'Over-policing of Black people' - London's Notting Hill Carnival boosts security weeks following UK riots
London's 2024 Notting Hill Carnival saw increased police presence on Sunday as law enforcement heightened security following a series of anti-immigration riots in the UK.
Footage shows hundreds of participants gathering for the carnival, dancing and watching performances. Meanwhile, dozens of police officers can be seen monitoring the crowd and patrolling the area while carrying backpacks.
Around 7,000 police officers were reportedly on duty. Some carnival-goers welcomed the increased security, with one noting police presence was 'heavy but friendly'.
"It’s pretty chill so far, everything seems quite well policed and there doesn't seem to be trouble and it's quite a reassuring amount of police," another agreed.
However, some attendants accused law enforcement of was using the recent riots as a 'pretext' to over-police London's Black community and called these measures 'a premeditated plan' to 'takeover carnival'.
"They've been wanting to over-police carnival for a long time, but there's always been resistance and push back against it. So, this time they are using it. The pretext is they're protecting us. But actually, there is a history in London, in the UK of over-policing of black events, of black people," said Ahmed Kaballo, one of the carnival-goers.
Another, Rashida, echoed this sentiment, stating: "I always feel the police presence at carnival but I have felt it a little more heavily today and they've got backpacks and things it sees. But, absolutely, the police do not make me feel more safe at all, ever."
The heightened security at Notting Hill Carnival comes after widespread unrest in the UK following the stabbing of three young girls aged between six and nine during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the town of Southport on July 29. Eight other children were hurt - five critically - along with two adults.
Initially, various reports circulated online on social media alleging that the Southport stabbing attack had an Islamist link and that the perpetrator was a recently-arrived migrant, which led to an attack on a Southport mosque.
Meanwhile, the police have identified the 17-year-old suspect as Axel Rudakubana, who was born in Wales to Rwandan parents. Rudakubana was charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder according to media reports. He will face a pre-trial hearing on 25 October.
London's 2024 Notting Hill Carnival saw increased police presence on Sunday as law enforcement heightened security following a series of anti-immigration riots in the UK.
Footage shows hundreds of participants gathering for the carnival, dancing and watching performances. Meanwhile, dozens of police officers can be seen monitoring the crowd and patrolling the area while carrying backpacks.
Around 7,000 police officers were reportedly on duty. Some carnival-goers welcomed the increased security, with one noting police presence was 'heavy but friendly'.
"It’s pretty chill so far, everything seems quite well policed and there doesn't seem to be trouble and it's quite a reassuring amount of police," another agreed.
However, some attendants accused law enforcement of was using the recent riots as a 'pretext' to over-police London's Black community and called these measures 'a premeditated plan' to 'takeover carnival'.
"They've been wanting to over-police carnival for a long time, but there's always been resistance and push back against it. So, this time they are using it. The pretext is they're protecting us. But actually, there is a history in London, in the UK of over-policing of black events, of black people," said Ahmed Kaballo, one of the carnival-goers.
Another, Rashida, echoed this sentiment, stating: "I always feel the police presence at carnival but I have felt it a little more heavily today and they've got backpacks and things it sees. But, absolutely, the police do not make me feel more safe at all, ever."
The heightened security at Notting Hill Carnival comes after widespread unrest in the UK following the stabbing of three young girls aged between six and nine during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the town of Southport on July 29. Eight other children were hurt - five critically - along with two adults.
Initially, various reports circulated online on social media alleging that the Southport stabbing attack had an Islamist link and that the perpetrator was a recently-arrived migrant, which led to an attack on a Southport mosque.
Meanwhile, the police have identified the 17-year-old suspect as Axel Rudakubana, who was born in Wales to Rwandan parents. Rudakubana was charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder according to media reports. He will face a pre-trial hearing on 25 October.