Police use ‘knife arches’ to detect carnival weapons

REVELLERS at the Notting Hill Carnival this weekend will pass through metal detectors labelled ‘knife arches’ to flush out those carrying weapons.

Almost 7,000 officers, including marksmen and riot squad members, will be on duty.

And police will carry gallons of water, specialist gloves and acid detecting kits after a substance was thrown in the air last year.

It comes after a disturbing social media post threatening attacks with corrosive liquid this week, which is being investigated.

The two-day musical event was branded a ‘disgrace’ last year after more than 30 police officers were attacked.

Victims were slashed with broken bottles, spat at and bitten in the worst confrontations.

Commander Dave Musker, who is leading the police operation, said: ‘If you have the intention to come to carnival and be involved in crime or violence, my officers will robustly and proactively target you to keep Londoners safe.’

The carnival is in its 59th year and will see more than a million people partying along a route through west London.