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Two stabbed in New Year party fracas
Police investigate stabbings after being called to club
ONE of London’s biggest New Year’s Eve parties ended in horror when police were called to a Bloomsbury venue.
Two clubbers were stabbed outside the New Connaught Rooms in Great Queen Street, Covent Garden, as a series of violent confrontations terrified party-goers for nearly three hours.
One of the men was rushed to St Mary’s hospital with life-threatening injuries after the ‘Club Fantastic’ night – spanning two decades of dance music – ended in chaos.
The worst-hit victim, 21, has stabbed five times in the left hand-side of his body, and was only removed from the danger-list when doctors confirmed that the deepest of his wounds had not caused fatal injuries.
The second man, 19, was also hospitalised but was less seriously hurt.
Police said yesterday that a large number of officers were at the club between the first report of violence – a woman who was bruised and battered in an assault at midnight – until the last public order offence at 2.45am.
And Scotland Yard revealed they are investigating reports that organisers Club Fantastic sold £55 tickets to twice the venue’s 5,000 capacity. One clubber, who did not want to be named, said: “Fights were breaking out, people were throwing glass bottles into the crowd. It was madness. I’ve never seen anything like it. Everyone was going nuts.
Located in vibrant Covent Garden, the New Connaught Rooms is one of London’s most sought-after venues. Following a £1 million refurbishment the venue boasts wood panelling, ornate high ceilings and glittering crystal chandeliers. Organisers claim “more than 200 years of experience of holding great parties”. Police made a number of arrests at the scene for public order offences, and a 20-year-old man was arrested for assaulting a police officer, though he was later released with a caution.
Police are also investigating multiple thefts at the club, as fleeing revellers found the unstaffed cloakroom had been looted, a press officer said yesterday.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “At approx 00:50 on 1/1/07, officers on patrol came across a disturbance at the New Connaught Rooms, WC2.
“LAS were called, and two men, both suffering stab wounds, were taken to a central London hospital. The condition of both men is described as serious.
“One line of enquiry will be matters surrounding overcrowding at the venue.”
No arrests have been made in connection with the stabbing, although one man has been charged with a public order offence and will appear at Highbury Magistrates Court next week. Investigations are continuing.”
A spokeswoman for the New Connaught Rooms played down the incident yesterday, saying her staff were not involved in the Club Fantastic-organised event. She said: “There was an altercation of some sort outside, but I’m not aware that it is particularly to do with the New Connaught. The police are currently looking into the incident.”
A spokesman from Club Fantastic declined to comment.
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