Scotland Yard has cancelled leave for the next four days as tensions flared for a second night in a south London park.
Two people were arrested in Burgess Park, Camberwell, with reports that riot police were called to deal with clashes near a lake.
Witness Polly Raven told Southwark News: “There were loads of teenagers hanging around. They were just having water pistol fights. It looked innocent enough. But a fight broke out on the other side of the lake and it sounded quite aggressive.
“The police in the park ran over to break it up, and it looked like they called for back-up. The group of youths started running straight at the police. The police got out their batons, then the youths started throwing bottles. That’s when riot vans showed up.
“They kept on charging at the police and the police kind of retreated. It looked like the police had it under control, when I was walking away.”
On Tuesday evening, two 16-year-old boys were knifed in the park and a nearby Tesco store was ransacked.
There was also violence in Hyde Park on Tuesday when four people, including a police officer, were stabbed at a water fight and unlicensed music event attended by up to 4,000 teenagers. Four other officers were injured.
The disorder continued into the night when police were pelted with missiles at an illegal rave in north-east London.
Commander Nick Downing said leave had been suspended to allow extra officers to patrol until the end of the weekend. He said: “A lovely day in the capital turned violent in Hyde Park, Burgess Hill and Stamford Hill after spontaneous events turned nasty and people attacked each other and the police.”
Mayor Sadiq Khan branded the violence “extremely disappointing” and said it was “probably fuelled by the hot weather”. Police defended their actions to break up unlicensed music events involving sound systems in public parks and streets.
Commander BJ Harrington, who is in charge of public order, said: “We have seen over the past 18 months, these events attract people intent on violence. They attract criminals who deal drugs and rob people, there is no guarantee that the venue is safe and often no one is keeping an eye out to stop trouble.”
Witnesses to last night’s violence are asked to contact the police on 020 8246 0076 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
