Brixton’s O2 Academy will remain closed for a further three months following the crowd crush that killed two people in December.
On December 15, 2022, a crowd crush occurred in the middle of a gig when a number of people attempted to gain access to the foyer of the building.
The incident injured several people and killed two others.
Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, and Gaby Hutchinson, 23, both died from their injuries.
As a result, Lambeth Council suspended the venue’s licence until January 16, 2023.
The venue is set to remain closed for a further three months whilst investigations run by Metropolitan Police continue.
Metropolitan Police have said that they will be seeking for a further suspension of the licence at a forthcoming hearing on January 16, in order to allow time to ensure the venue is safe to reopen.
The O2 Academy have confirmed it agreed to the further suspension and will be closed for a further three months as a result.
A spokesperson for Met Police said: “At the forthcoming hearing, the Metropolitan Police will seek a further suspension of the licence.
“This is to allow time to work with the venue to facilitate a safe reopening and to ensure appropriate safeguards, aimed at improving public safety, are in place.
“The O2 Academy has confirmed it agrees to a suspension of its licence for up to three months.”
Licence holder AMG says that they will work with police during their inquiry into the incident.
A spokesperson for AMG told BBC: "O2 Academy Brixton recognises the gravity of the events which occurred on the night of 15th December 2022 and expresses its sincere condolences to the families of those who died during the tragic incident and its genuine concerns for anyone affected by it.
"The licence holder (AMG) is committed to understanding what happened and co-operating with the various investigations that are under way including providing full cooperation to the police in the conduct of their inquiries.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here