Steward assaulted in ‘racially aggravated’ incident at Oasis gig
Four men and a woman were arrested on suspicion of offences, including an incident involving a racially aggravated assault of a steward.
It brings the total arrests across all five Heaton Park concerts to just 46, which passed without any “major incidents or trouble” as a total of more than 300,000 fans flocked to the park.
There was also an “isolated incident” at the newly dubbed “Gallagher Hill”, where fans without tickets had been gathering to catch a glimpse of the five shows.
Videos circulating online show crowds of fans singing football chants and throwing glass bottles, with one attendee reporting camping chairs being “thrown around”, however, police say this was quickly resolved.
Manchester City Council had instructed people without tickets not to travel to Heaton Park to “protect nearby livestock, preserve parkland and keep everyone safe”.
The M60 was closed last night, Sunday, between J19 and J21 following a “fatal incident“.
The motorway remained closed for a large period of the night but reopened in the early hours of this morning
The clockwise direction was reopened around 2am, with the anti-clockwise direction reopened just after 4am.
A large number of resources were sent to try and minimise disruption.
A large police presence was seen on the motorway near where the incident is believed to have occurred.
During the five concerts, a total of 10 unauthorised drones were seized after restrictions were put in place, including one which was spotted at the final Heaton Park gig.
There was a section 34 dispersal order in place around the event area each night of the gigs, giving police additional powers to help reduce anti-social behaviour and its impact on the community.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) worked with event organisers and partners from Manchester City Council and Bury Council to ensure the areas in and around Heaton Park were safely managed.
READ NEXT: ‘We just couldn’t compete’: Restaurant announces shock closure
READ NEXT: Fans undeterred by fencing on ‘Gallagher Hill’ at midweek Oasis gig
Assistant Chief Constable Matt Boyle, lead police commander for the Oasis events, said: “These concerts have been months in the making for us and our partners to ensure that hundreds of thousands of fans who have come to Manchester can safely enjoy these iconic homecoming shows.
“We’ve now seen all five Oasis events pass without any major issues and I’m pleased that the overwhelming majority of people attending have enjoyed themselves and behaved sensibly and responsibly.
“Our officers have continued to provide a high-visibility presence throughout, assisting our partners and event security in ensuring a smooth flow of operations, before, during, and after the concerts whilst being on-hand to deal with any concerns from members of the public.
“Where we have had to do so, we have acted in seizing unauthorised drones, arresting those attempting to illegally enter the event, coordinating road closures and working with colleagues in the ambulance service to help those in need of medical attention.
“We’ve assisted local authorities and the event organisers with their plans throughout.
“This includes supporting security staff who play a key role, and the rare and isolated incidents of abuse have been disappointing, particularly the reported racially aggravated incident tonight.
“I want to thank all security staff and partners who have done a fine job in making this a memorable experience for all.
“This has been a huge event with 300,000 fans coming to Heaton Park and many others visiting Manchester to experience the atmosphere.
“I’d like to thank the public for their cooperation and patience as we maintained a safe and steady flow of people entering and leaving the event with minimal disruption over the last few weeks.”
Source – INDIA TV
