Arsenal parade: Dozens require rescuing from height and nine arrests made
By Stanley Murphy-Johns, Press Association
About 75 people had to be rescued from height, and nine people were arrested during Arsenal’s parade on Sunday, emergency services have said.
Thousands of Arsenal fans lined the streets around the Emirates Stadium in London as the team embarked on their Premier League trophy parade on Sunday afternoon.
The air thick with red smoke, fans climbed trees, rooftops and traffic lights with a hope of seeing their heroes as the team bus went by.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said they rescued had “approximately 75 people” from incidents at height during the event, and encouraged fans to refrain from climbing onto rooftops as the celebrations continue this evening.
They also said they attended a fire at a hotel, believed to have been caused by a stray flare.
Assistant Commissioner of LFB, Pat Goulbourne, said: “Fortunately, the fire caused only a small amount of damage to the exterior of the building.
“Pyrotechnics are also believed to have triggered the fire alarms at several other locations in the area.
“As supporters head home, we would urge them to avoid using pyrotechnics, particularly at stations, and to keep them away from buildings and other flammable materials.”
Goulbourne also said the celebrations had been a “fantastic sight” and said so many of the fans were “celebrating their club’s achievement safely”.
The Metropolitan Police said that nine arrests had been made in the area around the Arsenal parade as of 6pm on Sunday.
The force said on X that arrests have been made on charges including drunk and disorderly behaviour, drugs offences, sexual assault and assaulting emergency workers.
The Met were set to have more than 500 officers staffing the parade.
As the afternoon turned to evening, the streets of north London remained full of Arsenal fans.
The roads were littered with cans, bottles, collapsed e-bikes and general debris from the celebration.
The crowds continued to chant and sing joyously as they made their way back towards Tube stations.
