Illegal New Year’s Eve ravers pelt police with makeshift missiles after they shut down Bristol music events
New Year’s Eve crazies attacked police with makeshift missiles after officers shut down music events in Bristol.
Nearly 400 people were found at an industrial estate in St Phillips after police were called to the scene at around 11.15pm, just before midnight on Wednesday evening.
Officers reported items being thrown at them and their vehicles on surrounding streets while they closed the nearby Feeder Road to prevent more people accessing the area.
A drone was deployed to assist in tracking the suspects, resulting in two arrests.
The incident was among a number of arrests and seizures of equipment made by police who responded to unlicensed music events in the city and across South Gloucestershire on New Year’s Eve.
As well as the illegal incident in St Phillips, police were also called to Aztec West and Purdown.
Officers were called to a warehouse in Aztec West, a business park in South Gloucestershire, at around 10.45pm following reports of loud music and a gathering of 400 to 500 people.
A cordon was drawn up and most of those in attendance dispersed around 03:30.
A man was arrested on suspicion of a number of offenses including drug use, possession and supply of drugs. They remain in police custody.
A drone was deployed to help capture the suspects and two people were arrested
Two vehicles containing sound equipment were also seized.
At least 100 people are thought to have attended an unauthorized music event in Purdown.
Police were called to the scene around 02.25. The music was turned off and the meeting dispersed at 5 a.m.
According to police, some people attending the events required medical treatment for injuries or ‘suspected drug-related illness’.
Inspector George Headley said: ‘Additional resources have been put in place to enable us to respond quickly to unlicensed music events and we are grateful to those who called us to keep us informed of what was going on.
‘We know some people accuse us of trying to stop people from celebrating New Year’s Eve, but that’s simply not the case. We want people to have a good time; What we don’t want is for people’s safety to be put at risk.
‘A number of people who attended these events in inappropriate and potentially dangerous locations last night required medical treatment, either for injuries they sustained or, in some cases, for suspected drug-related illnesses.
‘Throwing objects at police officers and driving under the influence of drugs are also completely unacceptable and the public expects us to take a strong stance against this.
‘Officers’ hard work throughout the night means those suspected of crimes may find themselves waking up to the very real and serious expectation of being investigated and prosecuted as we head into 2026.’
