Is Europe’s largest street festival at risk of I.S. attack?

[Anthea]

Mail Online

Closed for the carnival: Notting Hill residents batten down the hatches for the big bank holiday party

Around 1million party-goers are expected to attend Notting Hill Carnival on Sunday and Monday
Thousands of Metropolitan Police officers have been designated to patrol the street festival
Home and business owners in the west London area have begun boarding up windows and shopfronts
A teenager was stabbed at an illegal pre-carnival rave in Finsbury Park, north London, earlier this week
Almost 300 people were arrested at last August's event with offences ranging from sexual assault to bodily harm
By Jennifer Smith for MailOnline

Hailed as Europe's largest street festival, the annual Notting Hill Carnival attracts hundreds of thousands of revellers every August.

And in preparation for the 'Caribbean showcase for the world', home and business owners in the plush pocket of west London are taking precautions ahead of the raucous crowds.

Today workers were seen boarding up windows, shopfronts and gates in an early bid to ward off boisterous party-goers.

Metropolitan Police have issued stern warnings to those planning to attend the event this weekend which sees thousands of dancers and floats pass through the streets of Notting Hill to the soundtrack of reggae and Afro-Caribbean music.

A spokesman said those coming to cause harm will be dealt with 'swiftly and robustly' by 6,000 officers who will be on patrol.

More than 250 people were arrested at last year's event, with offences ranging from sexual assault to grievous bodily harm.

Superintendent Robyn Williams said: 'We have worked closely with the event organisers to ensure that the largest street party in Europe is a safe environment for people to come and enjoy themselves.

'Police officers and stewards will take to the streets of West London during the bank holiday weekend. We will have a total of 6,145 officers on duty on Sunday and just over 7,000 on duty on Monday dedicated to Carnival.

'Police patrol staffing levels outside of the Carnival footprint across the MPS will be maintained to undertake business as usual.

'The overwhelming majority of people do come to have a good time, but given the large numbers the event attracts, some see it as an opportunity to disrupt the event and commit crime.'

'I want to say to those who want to come to cause trouble, do not come, you will be dealt with swiftly and robustly. The Met will do everything in its power to make it as hard as possible for you.

'Throughout the weekend dedicated teams of experienced officers will be deployed to stop potential trouble makers from even getting to the Carnival area. This will include a range of tactics such as ANPR.

'Police super recognisers - officers with the ability to remember hundreds of offenders' faces - will be working again this year.

'Officers and stewards will be engaging with the public, and will take appropriate action and intervene at the earliest possible stage to prevent things from escalating.

'If you're coming to this year's event we want you to have a safe and enjoyable time. Please look after your belongings, and keep them with you. In particular keep an eye on your mobile phone, and don’t bring too much cash, or wear expensive jewellery.

On arrival at Carnival, go with the flow of the crowd, and move along the route. Make sure you discuss with friends and family a location to meet in case you get separated.'

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council has organised for a selected group of older residents to enjoy a seaside break over the bank holiday weekend while the carnival rages their streets.

Limited places for the trip to Eastbourne were advertised on its website earlier this month, with guests taken to a hotel on Saturday and brought back to their homes following the clear up on Tuesday.

Earlier this week a teenager was stabbed at an illegal pre-carnival rave in Finsbury Park, north London.

Hundreds of youths gathered in Seven Sisters Road on Wednesday as a warm up to the event this weekend. Finsbury Park tube station was closed early to avoid swarming crowds after violence spread among the crowds.

A 19-year-old was stabbed in the leg after being caught in a brawl between two groups.

A police helicopter was scrambled and four riot vans were sent to the scene where one officer was hit in the face, a spokesman said.

Metropolitan Police revealed 155 people had been arrested in pre-carnival raids, with officers seizing £93,000 in cash and a plethora of firearms.

Kensington and Chelsea Council issued 60,000 leaflets advising residents on how to prepare for the festival.

NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL: WHAT TO EXPECT AND HOW TO PLAN AHEAD OF EUROPE'S LARGEST STREET PARTY

The festivities kick off on Saturday night at 7pm with Panorama - an open air parade of steel bands.

On Sunday, described as the family friendly day, visitors are invited to the carnival from 6am to watch J'Ouvert, a parade of dancers, musicians and people in fancy dress.

At 10am the children's day parade is due to begin. The party will continue until 11pm, when revellers will be shepherded away from the main streets.

Monday is the carnival's main event - with a procession of floats, drummers, dancers, singers and party-goers expected to stream through the area all day.

DJs and bands are schedule to perform throughout the day and into the night.

Transport for London have arranged for additional buses to serve the area throughout the weekend though officials warn public transport will be extremely busy.

Ladbroke Grove tube station will be closed on Sunday and Monday, with Notting Hill Gate Station operating on an exit-only basis between midday and 7pm on Sunday and all day on Bank Holiday Monday.

Royal Oak station will close at 6pm on both days, and Westbourne Park will close at 11.30pm.
A performer at last year's festival the main event - the Bank Holiday Monday parade which sees floats, dancers, drummers and singers pass through the streets

It comes days after a teenager was stabbed in the leg Finsbury Park at an illegal pre-carnival rave.

Full Article with LOTS of Pic:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... -town.html

[Anthea]

On the afternoon of 22 May 2013, a British Army soldier, Fusilier Drummer Lee Rigby of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, was attacked and killed by Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale near the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, southeast London.

Rigby was off duty and walking along Wellington Street when he was attacked. Two men ran him down with a car, then used knives and a cleaver to stab and hack him to death. The men dragged Rigby's body into the road and remained at the scene until police arrived.

They told passers-by that they had killed a soldier to avenge the killing of Muslims by the British armed forces.

Unarmed police arrived at the scene nine minutes after an emergency call was received and set up a cordon. Armed police officers arrived five minutes later.

The assailants, armed with a gun and cleaver, charged at the police, who fired shots that wounded them both. They were apprehended and taken to separate hospitals.

Both are British of Nigerian descent, raised as Christians, who converted to Islam.

On 19 December 2013, both of the attackers were found guilty of Rigby's murder. On 26 February 2014, they were sentenced to life imprisonment, with Adebolajo given a whole life order and Adebowale ordered to serve at least 45 years.

The Nottinghill Street Carnival will attract a possible million people or more

The majority of them black or non-European

Some of the people attending will be Muslim

How many will be radical Muslim converts such as Adebolajo and Adebowale?

None we hope

Will any be supporters of the Islamic State?

A truly frightening thought with so many people attending

Notting hill has never been so tightly bordered up before

Let us hope this and the vast numbers of police in the area

Along with the extra security - will deter any action by extremists