A birthday party “link-up” descended into chaos as hundreds of London teenagers clashed with police.
The Met made ten arrests as chaotic scenes erupted just off Old Kent Road.
Witnesses reported as many as 400 teenagers crashing a girl's birthday party on Monday afternoon, according to Metro.
Neighbours reportedly said some were carrying knives which they hid when police arrived at the scene around 5pm.
Video circulating on social media shows a line of police surrounding a large crowd of youths during the confrontation, which locals said went on for hours.
“It's pandemonium on the Old Kent Road," one person wrote on X, along with a video showing the situation unfolding.
There have been up to 7 ARRESTS so far in Old Kent Road, South East London, after an apparent teenage street party has gone awry.
— Tony (@TonyL_01) June 22, 2026
Police has the situation under control. pic.twitter.com/A28CPl6pUi
A mother-of-two told Metro how a teenager threw a knife into her back garden when the police arrived.
She said: “It was terrifying. A knife was lobbed over my wall what if it had hit one of my kids.
“Loads of them had blades which they were hiding in bushes or throwing away when the police arrived.
“They had come to the party after seeing a 'link up' message online with details of the party. There must have been 500 all together. A lot of them came on buses and were drinking Buzz Ball cocktails.
“When they arrived they were everywhere doing nitrous oxide with balloons. It was out of control, like a war zone.”
A venue in the Avindake Square area had reportedly been booked for a girl's 16th birthday party before it was crashed by hundreds of uninvited children.
A Met police spokesperson said: “We are aware of the impact that incidents like this can have on the local community.
“Officers have remained in the area today to offer reassurance to local residents and deter further offending.
“On Monday, 22 June at around 18:00hrs police were called to reports of a large gathering on Avondale Square.
“Officers attended the scene and a dispersal order was promptly put in place. Ten arrests were made.
“A 16-year-old boy was assaulted and, after being arrested, was taken to hospital from custody for treatment to a head injury.
“His injuries have since been confirmed as neither life-threatening nor life-changing.”
