Police probe terrifying armed ‘school wars’ in the capital after children urged to ‘be violent’ and bring weapons to classrooms
Police have launched a special operation into multiple “school wars” advertised across London,
The Metropolitan Police said “Operation Cedarfield” has been brought in to shut down gang-style clashes between schools which are being promoted online.
Several TikTok posts pitting schools against each other have gone viral, encouraging children to bring weapons including compasses, rulers, scissors, knives, and fireworks for the brawls.
More than 50 schools in at least 12 London boroughs have been encouraged to participate in the fights.
Posts, such as one promoting the so-called “Hackney War”, encourage pupils to “be violent” and to jump children from the other side.
The images split schools from various London boroughs into coloured sides, most often red versus blue.
They imagery is inspired by Los Angeles gang wars, featuring red bandanas worn by the “Bloods”, and blue bandanas worn by the “Crips”.
One of the posts featured a scoring system rewarding pupils 20 points if they “punch up an opp” and 10 points if they “chase an opp”, with 10 bonus points available if the violence is recorded.
Post promoting the Tower Hamlets Clash dividing schools into black and green teams
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TIKTOK/KK.ONDAT
Health Secretary Wes Streeting, MP for Ilford North in Redbridge, took notice of one of the posts.
He then said: “I’ve raised this at highest levels in Government.
“Hope parents are clear with their children that we’ll come down on this sort of behaviour like a ton of bricks.”
Operation Cedarfield is set to monitor the posts and respond if violence does break out.
The Redbridge school wars, which Wes Streeting commented on
Many of the posts on TikTok have now been removed or deleted, with the social media platformshowing a warning that read “take a stand against violence” if the London school wars are searched for.
But one post, still available online, divides Tower Hamlets schools into black and green teams.
A letter to parents from one school in the borough claimed there was “no indication that our students are involved”.
Schoolchildren in the ‘red’ and ‘blue’ sides were urged to wage war in Hackney
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GB NEWSIt added that “police are fully aware of the situation and will be increasing patrols around secondary school in the coming days and weeks”.
Met Commander Neerav Patel said: “We’re aware of social media posts circulating and are in close contact with schools across several London boroughs to offer reassurance.
“Officers will maintain a strong, visible presence around schools, and will respond firmly to any reports of violence or disorder.
“We continue to closely monitor online spaces and have worked with platforms to request a dozen social media accounts to be disabled where threats or violence were planned or encouraged.”
