Today (19th Dec 2022) it has been announced that a second woman has died after being injured in a terrifying crush at the Brixton Academy on Thursday night.
Eyewitness reports and videos posted on social media showed a huge crowd of people outside the venue, with some trying to force their way into the venue.
According to the Met Police, the concert, by Afro-pop singer Asake, had to be abandoned just minutes after starting when a “large number of people” tried to force their way inside the Academy.
They stated that Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, from Newham, east London, died in hospital on Saturday morning, while two other women aged 21 and 23 remain in a critical condition.
The O2 Academy Brixton later posted on social media saying they were “deeply saddened” by the news of the death of Ms Ikumelo.
The Met has now set up a website for people to submit relevant photos and videos from the event.
Update Mon 19th Dec 2022
A second woman has died after a crowd crush last week outside the O2 Academy Brixton.
Gabrielle Hutchinson, 23, was working in a security role at the venue on the night of an Asake gig, the Metropolitan police said.
Ch Supt Colin Wingrove, of the Met, said: “It is devastating news that a second person has lost their life following the events on Thursday. I wish to express my heartfelt condolences to Gabrielle’s family at this unimaginably difficult time.”
The force said three women critically injured in the crush were all in the foyer of the building. A 21-year-old woman remains in a critical condition. [—]
Artist statement
Posting on Twitter, Asake said: “I am overwhelmed with grief and could never have imagined anything like this happening.”
— ASAKE (@asakemusik) December 17, 2022
More info
- Brixton Academy: Woman dies after Asake concert crush (BBC)
- Asake concert: Crowd tries to enter venue in Brixton (Sky News)
Social media footage
— TakeThatRisk
#Mbappe
(@Jordz_K23) December 15, 2022
#Mbappe
(@Jordz_K23) Asake Day 3, what a fucking night. o2 Brixton academy #Asake #Brixton #asakeconcert pic.twitter.com/TBVU8mKwfz
— YT: Rofiat CC (@rofiatcc) December 15, 2022