Travellers’ Easter Harrods meet-up erupted into violence on Saturday as one boy was stabbed.
The Traveller community flocked to Knightsbridge on April 4 for one of their annual gatherings in the city which has become a way for the community to connect.
However, the gathering was ruined when a boy was stabbed and had to be taken to hospital for non-life-threatening injuries after disorder broke out amongst some guests at the unofficial event.
Two pubs were reportedly closed according to a letter to local residents from the Met Police, according to London Now.
A crime scene was put in place with officers remaining on the scene into the night.
The letter said Chelsea Safer Neighbourhood Officers and other officers from across the borough had a ‘long day and night’ providing a presence at the gathering outside Harrods and around Knightsbridge.
It said ‘hundreds’ of travellers from all over the country attended the meet-up where ‘several breaches of the peace were prevented and two public houses were cleared and closed by officers’.
Footage posted on TikTok shows people running frantically in one direction down a road in Knightsbridge and police in attendance.
Other clips show traveller women dressed in pretty pastel dresses and stilettos whilst one worker on a lunch break struggled to get through the crowd to return to her shift.
A Met spokesperson said: ‘Police were called to Brompton Road, SW1 at around 7.36pm on Saturday, April 4 following reports that a 16-year-old boy had been stabbed.
‘Officers attended with the London Ambulance Service with support from nearby security and the boy was taken to hospital. He has since been discharged.
‘Officers have launched an investigation and continuing enquiries to locate those responsible. No arrests have been made at this stage.
‘Anyone with information or footage that could help police should call 101 quoting CAD 6404/04APR26.’
Last year, TikTok was flooded with clips of the large gathering showing youngsters loitering around and chatting to each other.
Travellers had taken to the social media platform showing themselves getting glammed up in their designer gear and makeup before they made the journey to the capital.
Meanwhile, three young males were seen in one video running away as two police officers chased after them. It is not known if they were part of the group.
One woman who attended last year’s meet-up said on TikTok: ‘So basically a group of travellers meet up outside the front of Harrods for a chat. Come from god knows where.
‘Years ago people used to chat, but now people think their own s**t don’t stink and will look you up and down.
‘There’s no point going, no one socialises any more. But yeah, I had a lovely time yesterday because I went with the right company.’
It has previously been suggested that the travellers meet up outside of Harrods to find a partner.
One traveller, named Suzy, opened up on TikTok last year that the community headed to the store and other meet ups, including at Thorpe Park Fright Night, dressed in their ‘skimpiest outfit’ when looking for romance.
‘How to get yourself a traveller man… first you’ve got to go to a meet,’ she said.
‘For example, a lot of travellers have little meeting places.
‘It’ll happen a few times a year… Thorpe Park for Fright Night, standing outside Harrods near Christmas, Winter Wonderland.
‘Those are just a few that’s coming up.
‘Go to one of them places and make sure you’re dressed up to the nines, and I mean dressed up.
‘Your furry sliders out, your fake Louboutins.’
She advised women to make sure their makeup was ‘heavy’ and when they ‘eye up the traveller boy, make sure you give him ‘the look”.
Travellers also descend on Winter Wonderland in December in what is also fast becoming a tradition for the community and has been dubbed their new ‘Appleby Horse Fair’.
In 2023, hundreds of clips were uploaded online where travellers showed themselves getting ready and inside the event, with some even alluding to it being a great place for match-making.
Influencer Mary Kate Jones uploaded a ‘get ready with me’ video to TikTok where she boasted a full face of makeup and showed off her glamorous outfit sporting items from outlets like Zara and Shein.
But she also bemoaned the treatment her community gets from some establishments.
Ms Jones claimed: ‘They don’t like us going to pubs or you can’t even go into Harrods – you’ll get stopped on the door. They won’t let you go into Harrods but they’ll let non-travellers go in. It’s just crazy. So literally we’re chucked out in the cold like dogs.’
