Four charged with attempted murder after violence at Arsenal title parade

Four people have been charged with attempted murder after Arsenal’s Premier League title victory parade that prompted 29 arrests over incidents at the event. 

Almost 1million fans are thought to have lined the streets of Islington, north London, on May 31 to watch the club celebrate their first league triumph in 22 years, the day after they lost the Champions League final to Paris Saint-Germain. 

But the celebrations turned violent, with part of the title parade being turned into a crime scene after a fan was stabbed. 

Among those arrested, two teenagers and two men have since been charged with attempted murder, while another eight people have been charged with offences including grievous bodily harm, sexual assault, and assault on an emergency worker, police said. 

The Met are now asking for further information regarding other incidents which reportedly occurred on the day of the parade. 

Today, the force released new images of nine people they want to speak to over alleged offences that happened on that day. 

Those offences include a racially aggravated assault against a woman on Upper Street which was reported at around 2.30pm, the Met said.

Officers also responded to a person damaging a car on Caledonian Road at around 3.15pm, while a woman was reportedly assaulted at around 4.30pm on Highbury Crescent.

Officers were also called at 10.31pm to reports of an assault at the King’s Head Pub on Upper Street, in which two men sustained serious injuries. The incidents are not connected, the Met Police added.

Detective Chief Inspector Phil Coster, from the Metropolitan Police Service, said: ’These incidents occurred on a day when fans should have been able to enjoy celebrations safely with family and friends. Instead, we saw a small number of individuals engage in behaviour that put others at risk.

’More than 500 officers were deployed across the event alongside specialist search and drone teams. Their presence helped ensure the vast majority of supporters were able to enjoy the celebrations safely.

’While the event was largely safe and brought thousands of fans together to celebrate, we did see instances of disorder, anti-social behaviour and some violent incidents.

’We are continuing to carry out enquiries to help progress our investigation and identify those responsible. If you recognise any of the men pictured, or have any information that could assist our investigation, please get in touch with us.’ 

The Gunners had taken to the streets of north London on Sunday to celebrate winning England’s top flight for the first time in 22 years, less than 24 hours after they had lost to Paris St Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest.  

Thousands of fans lined the streets, but the Met Police said offences including drunk and disorderly behaviour, drugs offences, sexual assault, and assaulting emergency workers occurred as chaos erupted in the capital. 

Footage captured at the scene showed at least a dozen hooligans climbing on the roof of a police van, some of whom appeared to be drinking, while banging their fists on the side of the vehicle and chanting as footballs were thrown about. 

The London Fire Brigade had to warn fans not to climb on rooftops after crews had to rescue 75 fans from places at a height when they got stuck.

The next day, the Met confirmed that six people had been stabbed in the hours after the event. 

One officer suffered a slash wound to the hand and another was hit on the head by an object thrown by the crowd, the force previously said. 

Four police vans in Theberton Street, Islington, were also left with broken lights and dents.