Four Metropolitan Police officers were injured as they tried to break up a party of more than 100 people at a travellers’ site in east London.
Revellers gathered at the site, close to the disused Nightingale primary school off Rendlesham Road, Hackney, from around 4.30pm on Thursday.
Police broke up the party after authorising a dispersal zone. But four officers were injured while breaking up fights as the group left the area.
They were all taken to hospital with minor injuries.
A jogger passing by told the Standard: “I went past there at about 7.30pm and it was still in full swing. There was a fair number of police around.
“It was a pretty big gathering, about 100 people, there were lots of people crowded behind the site gates.
“I was just shocked at the size of the gathering. It was a bit upsetting given the high Covid deaths in the UK at the moment."
They added: “People were just milling about, chatting and smoking as police were at the gates. Standard party type stuff really.”
Residents reported seeing broken bottles in the road after the party was eventually broken up.
A 27-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and remains in custody.
Police said enquiries are ongoing to identify the organiser and anyone else present who breached coronavirus regulations.
