BBC News - Riot police tackle 'illegal' rave in High Holborn

31 October 2010 Last updated at 12:18

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Riot police tackle 'illegal' rave in High Holborn

A crowd of about 500 people gathered in the eight-storey building

Hundreds of people have been attending a suspected illegal rave in central London after a stand-off between revellers and riot police.

Several officers were hurt trying to disperse the gathering at a disused building in High Holborn, police said. Seven arrests have been made.

The Metropolitan Police said bricks were thrown at officers as they tried to disperse revellers.

But by 0930 GMT police said things had "quietened down".

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

It's very friendly, you can trust people”

End Quote Flavia Pickler Dressed as a toffee apple

Police were first called to the building, which is bordered by High Holborn, Museum Road and New Oxford Street, at 2320 BST.

Halloween costumes

Elements of the estimated crowd of about 500 people at the eight-storey building became aggressive after officers asked them to move on, police said.

Dozens of riot squad officers were then called to the scene.

One police officer needed hospital treatment for a minor head injury, while a woman in her 30s, who police said was caught up in the disorder, was also taken to hospital with a cut face.

Hundreds of revellers spilled out onto New Oxford Street, some dressed in Halloween costumes

A number of buildings and vehicles were damaged during the disturbance and road closures are in place around the site.

Hundreds of revellers spilled out onto New Oxford Street, some dressed in Halloween costumes.

Two clubbers at the event, both originally from Brazil, had tried to have their photo taken with police and said the atmosphere at such events was always good.

Flavia Pickler, 28, who came on the train from Brighton where she works as a nanny, was dressed as a toffee apple.

"It's very friendly, you can trust people," she said.

Samanta Coletti, 27, a waitress living in west London, said: "We love it. You never find fights, if someone is stealing or harassing girls they are told to leave, you can leave your bag on the floor and dance."

via bbc.co.uk