Three officers were injured and four people were arrested in the rumpus in east London - with party-goers even seen dancing to the sound of police sirens in street
The Scene of the Incident
Hundreds of people were partying in the street during an unlicensed music event outside former pool and snooker club, the Hurricane Rooms in Walthamstow.
Police Seen in the Scene
Neighbours saw some of the 500-strong crowd enter the building after police tried to disperse the crowd - while others stayed outside dancing around to the sounds of police sirens.
Police say a group of ravers barricaded themselves inside a building in Hoe Street and began to throw billiard balls and stones at officers as they attempted to get them out.
They could not confirm if the building was the Hurricane Rooms.
Sarah Elizabeth Cox, who lives on Chingford Road, said she could hear sirens going constantly from about 10pm.
"I stuck my head out the window around 10.30pm and saw about five police vehicles and perhaps six police outside the snooker hall.
"At a guess (I would say there were) 60 kids outside. My eyesight is bad but they looked about 16 years old.
"More vans followed, there were perhaps 20 cops by about 11 and non stop barking from dogs.
"My room blocks the left-hand side of the hall so I couldn't see what was going on but the dogs sounded like they were mostly on that side.
Some Police officers were injured in the rage that was carried out in the area
"All I could see were the kids being pushed back by a line of perhaps 10 officers and a small group in the middle of them starting to dance to the sound of the sirens and police dogs barking."
Kamel Labiad wrote on Twitter: "Anti-riot police are trying to break into the hurricane room in #walthamstow and arrest the people inside."
While DIMIS wrote: "Illegal rave at the old snooker hall in the stow. Let's PARTY."
Witness Kamel Labiad said he noticed the commotion as he walked home from watching Germany's Euro 2016 victory over Italy.
He told the Evening Standard "After an hour the police closed the junction completely because the remaining people in the building start throwing stones and billiard balls on police cars from a window in first floor."
A Met Police spokeswoman confirmed a man was arrested for criminal damage, another was arrested for a public order offence and two men were arrested for "supplying a noxious substance."
The spokesman added: "At approximately 9.45pm on Saturday, July 2, police became aware of a large number of people gathering for an unlicensed music event outside a building in Hoe Street, Walthamstow.
"Officers attended the scene and found approximately 500 people outside the venue.
"Borough officers attempted to disperse the crowd, but some managed to gain access to the building.
"Officers from the Territorial Support Group were called to the scene to assist and the majority of people outside the premises were dispersed.
"However a large number of people remained within the building where they barricaded themselves inside and missiles were thrown at the officers.
"At around 5am officers entered the building and the remainder of the people left.
"Three PCs - one man and two women - sustained minor injuries. They did not require hospital treatment.
"One male was arrested for criminal damage, one male was arrested for a public order offence and two males were arrested for supplying a noxious substance.
"All currently remain in custody at an east London police station."
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