Cars surrounded with windows smashed after large crowd takes over London park

A mob smashed windows and launched projectiles during a night of chaos inside a London park.

Footage shows crowds of people, mainly men, gathered at Beckenham Place Park in south London on Wednesday.

The group is seen pounding on the windows of nearby vehicles, before kicking them in and filming the driver as he tried to get away while some people inhale balloons.

The vehicle does manage to drive off, but with the passenger door hanging open.

Despite this no arrests have been made.

Locals have expressed their anger as images show the amount of rubbish left behind on the ground.

John McAuliffe wrote: ‘People don’t deserve beautiful open spaces if they treat them like this there’s plenty of bins to put your rubbish in.’

Mark Phillips wrote: ‘ I did tell the Police and the Council last night while I watched the crowds grow larger.

‘Yes its an open space for people too but people need to share that space with the life that was there before they were, not destroy it through ignorance and laziness.

‘My heart bleeds for the life that I see taken everyday by humans who think the world is theirs by right regardless.’

The Metropolitan Police said: ‘We recognise the concern this has caused for local residents and officers are working at pace to identify and locate those seen in the videos.

‘Local people can expect to see an increased police presence in the area over the coming days.

‘We’d encourage anyone with information to get in touch with us so we can pursue every possible line of enquiry.’

It comes as crowds of teenagers tore through Clapham High Street, ransacking shops and facing down police officers last week.

Families and passersby were barricaded inside stores as hundreds of youths piled through after schools emptied for the Easter holidays.

Footage emerged of fires lit outside and fireworks set off on Clapham Common.

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