ShattaFest, an event organized in the United Kingdom, has been cancelled after police ordered its closure due to serious safety concerns arising from overcrowding at the venue.
According to UK authorities, the festival exceeded its approved capacity, prompting police intervention after a stampede was reported on the premises.
The organizers, Ghana Party in the Park, confirmed the disruption in a statement, urging attendees not to travel to the venue while emergency services responded to the incident.
They explained that the festival had been temporarily suspended because of a major incident at the site and advised the public to stay away until further notice.
The organizers said emergency personnel and relevant authorities were working to bring the situation under control and appealed for cooperation to allow responders to carry out their duties safely. They also assured patrons that additional updates would be provided as more information became available.
At the time of the announcement, the organizers had not indicated whether the event would be rescheduled or if ticket holders would be refunded.
ShattaFest was expected to feature Ghanaian dancehall star Shatta Wale as one of its headline performers, drawing fans from across the UK and other countries.
Meanwhile, UK authorities have not officially confirmed the number of injuries or whether any arrests were made following the incident.
In a video circulating online, a UK police officer explained that the event was shut down after a stampede resulted in several people sustaining injuries.
The officer stated that the decision to cancel the festival was taken in the interest of public safety after the stampede left numerous attendees hurt.