Hyde Park violence: Police release images of five suspects wanted in connection with disorder

Several police, including a police officer, were stabbed when a spontaneous ‘water fight’ near the Serpentine lake turned violent

(London Metropolitan Police)

Police investigating the stabbing of three people in Hyde Park have released the photos of five suspects they want to identify.

Three people including a police officer were stabbed in London’s Hyde Park on Tuesday evening after a “water fight” near the Serpentine lake turned violent.

The London Metropolitan Police said the crowd, which peaked at around 4,000 people, gathered for a largely peaceful water fight as temperatures soared, but as the evening wore on a “significant minority” became hostile towards officers monitoring the scene.

Bottles were thrown at police officers after the mob became violent at around 8:40pm.

The police officer, who was stabbed in the hand, and four colleagues who were injured by bottles were taken to a local hospital for treatment but have since been discharged.

Two members of the public with stab wounds remain in hospital but their injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

Scotland Yard said four of the men captured in CCTV footage are believed to have taken part in violent disorder in Hyde Park and the fifth at Marble Arch.

Met Police Commander Nick Downing said: “We are asking for the public’s help to identify these five men, to give us any information they may have about anyone else who was involved in the disorder last night and, looking ahead, any information about future plans for such disorder.

“A lovely day in the capital turned violent last night after spontaneous events turned nasty and people attacked each other and the police.

“Tonight we’ve increased the number of police officers on duty, and cancelled anymore leave so we keep extra officers out on our streets right through until the weekend.”

The incident was one of several in the city overnight on what was the hottest day of the year so far.

In Burgess Park, south London, two 16-year-old boys were stabbed as disorder broke out among 500 to 600 young people taking part in an end-of-term water fight in the sun, while a nearby supermarket was ransacked.

There was further disorder well into the night when police were pelted with missiles as they moved hundreds of revellers from an illegal block party in north-east London.

And a 15-year-old girl was taken to hospital on Monday evening with suspected knife wounds to the head after hundreds gathered for a street party in St Mary's Road, Harlesden, north-west London, police said.

Two women, aged 31 and 35, were arrested on suspicion of GBH at a nearby flat and taken to a north London police station.

The investigation is being led by detectives from the Specialist Crime and Operations’ Homicide and Major Crime Command.

Anyone who has any information or who witnessed the crime taking place is asked to call 020 8785 8244.

Additional reporting by PA