Awards chiefs: Stabbings at O2 nothing to do with us

ORGANISERS of the Urban Music Awards today hailed the evening a success as a man slashed across the throat at the event recovers in hospital.

The victim was said to be lucky to be alive today after his neck artery was severed in the attack.

Knives were brandished and champagne bottles used as weapons when fighting broke out in the VIP area of the IndigO2 — next to the O2 arena —during the awards on Saturday night.

Three people were stabbed, the man who is now serious but stable and two others who were wounded. The arena's owner AEG Europe was today conducting a security review and meeting Metropolitan Police and Greenwich council as it emerged that organisers failed to use metal-detectors.

But Invincible Media, the company behind the awards, released a statement today calling the event "one of the best ever".

It said: "It was all geared on being the most successful Urban Music Awards yet! After two hours ... the final part of nominee announcements and show recording was suspended due to a separate incident which had nothing to do with the UMAs, simply a minority who decided to take it upon themselves to try and ruin what was turning out as one of the best ever UMAs."

It said next year's event would be held on 1 November "in a secret location as a strictly invitation televised event".

The violence reportedly broke out between two rival gangs after MP George Galloway had presented an award 90 minutes into the evening.

All Saint singer Shaznay Lewis was among those fleeing the fighting.

Casey Herbert, of ITV Local London, who was managing a live online broadcast, said: "There were no gun or knife checks being carried out for people going into the VIP area. Police did lock the doors, but only about half an hour later. By then the people involved had run off. Our sound recorder said he saw a man with a gun in the crowd and just dived under his desk to safety."

AEG Europe said metal detectors were not used but guests were searched, adding that a pre-event risk assessment had been done.

Police are investigating whether the seriously injured man was attacked with a broken champagne bottle or a glass. They have not recovered a knife from the scene. Detectives also believe the brawl may have been caught on CCTV and even filmed by TV cameras. A 21-year-old man was arrested over the attack but released on bail today.