Dozens crushed at free concert

Published on Sunday 15 November 2009 21:48

AN INQUIRY has been launched after dozens of people were injured at a free Christmas lights switch-on event where pop band JLS were performing.

Four people needed hospital treatment and 60 others were injured when a crowd surged forward during the band's performance, breaching a metal security barrier.

The rest of the free event in Birmingham, set to feature a host of chart-topping acts, including the Sugababes, Tinchy Stryder, Chipmunk, Little Boots and Alexandra Burke, was cancelled after the incident.

MP Khalid Mahmood, who represents the Perry Barr area of the city, said the council had had a lucky escape.

He said: "This could have been far, far worse than it was, we are very, very lucky.

"There was no real assessment of what the dangers were and how many people there could be.

"Of course the young people are going to be excited by the whole thing, it was a good thing to do, but again the council did not organise it properly."

The council's assistant director for sport and events, Steve Hollingworth, said that the authority had done everything it could to plan for the event, and had made the right decision in cancelling after the breach of the security fence.