An illlegal London rave descended into a full-blown riot this weekend, with police allegedly “bashing people senseless”.

The annual Halloween event – also known as “Scumoween” – took place this year at a property in Lambeth, and was attended by hundreds of people. However, once baton-wielding riot police arrived to cut the party short, crowds began throwing propane tanks, bangers, chairs and fire extinguishers in retaliation. 

The party was set to feature music from the “full spectrum of underground dance”, but was eventually shut down at 6am – though much of the chaos was captured by revellers on social media.  

The next day, Scum Tek – the rave's organisers – were quick to chastise the police for acting in an aggressive and impulsive manner, and accused them of “bashing people senseless” throughout the night.

“Ravers did not react until the police started bashing people senseless! Letting their dogs go at people almost unrestrained,” the group said in a Facebook post. “Many people tried to engage with dialogue from inside. The police were not interested to talk through peaceful resolutions. This did not seem to be a part of the orders. People talking to each other solves more than confrontation.”

This statement was supported by partygoer Bart Kuleba – who also claimed that most of the violence had been instigated by police. “The police pushed the ravers back into residential areas,” he wrote. “Ravers did not choose to go into residential areas. Police with dogs intentionally came close to ravers to antagonise them and a girl (she genuinely didn't do anything wrong to provoke the attack) got bitten because of their carelessness.

“Police were also calling ravers names and being verbally abusive towards them to incite violence. You morons need to get the facts straight from the people who were actually there instead of gossiping and fantasising scenarios to suit your preconceived ideas and judgements of people who go rave.”

The police, however, told a very different story. In a press statement, the MPS Southwark said that they had been confronted by “a large group of people” and pelted with “a number of missiles” as well as a reported “petrol bomb”. They also took to Twitter to reveal the results of the damage (see above).

“As well as attacking police the group also caused criminal damage to private vehicles and property in the area,” they added.

Eight people have been arrested so far.