Headteacher reacts to knife attack at party in Havering

The head teacher of Elm Park Primary School in Havering, east London, expressed her shock after a violent incident at a birthday party. A group of over 50 young people, armed with knives and machetes, crashed a private party, leading to chaos. Victoria Morris said the people involved were not known to the school, emphasizing that no injuries occurred on school property itself. The trouble started around 8:30 PM on Saturday when uninvited guests gatecrashed the event. Police were called to handle the situation, but tensions escalated. Two teenagers, aged 16 and 19, were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Three others were arrested for assaulting emergency workers during the unrest. Morris stated that the school hall would no longer be available for evening events due to this incident. Neighbors described the area as a "war zone," with a dramatic increase in young people arriving from different parts of London after being invited through social media. Witnesses reported disturbing scenes, including youths wielding knives and mocking police. The police remained at the scene to restore order and ensured that further searches for weapons were conducted the following day. Residents were frightened by the violent behavior, noting that the local community is usually peaceful. Investigations are ongoing, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the police.