Year: 2022

The Brixton 02 Academy’s licence has been suspended after two people were killed in a crowd crush at a gig last week.

It emerged today concerns were raised about the strength of the front doors nearly three years before the fatal incident.

Afro-pop singer Asake’s gig was cut short when a large number of people tried to enter the foyer on Thursday.

Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, died on Saturday, while Gaby Hutchinson, 23, died on Monday.

The south London venue’s licence has been suspended until 16 January.

Lambeth councillors met earlier and decided to take the ‘interim decision’ to suspend the academy’s licence following the ‘severity of events’ and ‘risks to public safety’ from ‘a lack of crowd control at the front doors’, until a full hearing takes place on 16 January.

During the council meeting, the Metropolitan Police said there had been a similar crush on 4 February 2020 when concerns were raised about the strength of the front doors during a concert by Naira Marley, another Afrobeats singer.

The police force wanted Lambeth Council’s licensing sub-committee to suspend the licence throughout the its investigation. The owners instead had offered to remain closed for 28 days.

One show has already been postponed and another on New Year’s Eve has been cancelled.

Five more shows due to take place between now and 16 January will be postponed.

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